BALLAD OF CROWS
(self released)
Lead singer and songwriter Steve Crawford has a warm vocal style reminiscent of Glen Frey or Jackson Browne, something that is hardly a disadvantage to the career of this talented trio, two of them Scots and one German.
Their own high quality songs show up well, including the co-writes with Davy Cattanach, even at times surpassing the quality of their covers of Tom Petty’s American Girl and Tim O’ Brien's Brother Wind. The instrumentation is all acoustic and varied with Crawford handling lead vocals and guitar, with Pete Coutts on mandolin and backing vocals that when blended with the lead vocal provides some exquisite harmonies. Multi instrumentalist Sascha ‘Salossi’ Loss plays most of the remaining instrumentation on this always rewarding album that generically, is a blend of melodic folk, old timey and Americana, even having a bluegrass feel at times, often all on the same song! The tempos are varied, nothing that could be considered to be 'rocking' but none the less a tremendous variety of textures and colours with some nice changes in instrumentation that really help to label this as a recording of tremendous diversity.
'Ballad of Crows' is a terrific album (and band!) that has a haunting atmosphere as well as a comforting warmth on a recording that thanks to its thematic diversity should hold appeal for most roots music tastes, in fact, thanks to the memorable melodies, perhaps even crossing over to somewhere approaching the mainstream.
Stylistically, they are working in a crowded field but there is more than enough about them that is different to separate them from what could be considered their peers. With a debut album a dynamism and solidity is always needed to make it stand out and grab the attention of promoters, agents, 'bloggers,' etc, something that many fail to achieve. Ballad of Crows not only achieve that but also have the confidence to raise their game to that of a much recorded band who are totally confident in their ability to perform the music they visualise. A hugely rewarding debut that augurs well for the future.
No website as yet, but the following is their facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/BalladofCrows?fref=ts
Their own high quality songs show up well, including the co-writes with Davy Cattanach, even at times surpassing the quality of their covers of Tom Petty’s American Girl and Tim O’ Brien's Brother Wind. The instrumentation is all acoustic and varied with Crawford handling lead vocals and guitar, with Pete Coutts on mandolin and backing vocals that when blended with the lead vocal provides some exquisite harmonies. Multi instrumentalist Sascha ‘Salossi’ Loss plays most of the remaining instrumentation on this always rewarding album that generically, is a blend of melodic folk, old timey and Americana, even having a bluegrass feel at times, often all on the same song! The tempos are varied, nothing that could be considered to be 'rocking' but none the less a tremendous variety of textures and colours with some nice changes in instrumentation that really help to label this as a recording of tremendous diversity.
'Ballad of Crows' is a terrific album (and band!) that has a haunting atmosphere as well as a comforting warmth on a recording that thanks to its thematic diversity should hold appeal for most roots music tastes, in fact, thanks to the memorable melodies, perhaps even crossing over to somewhere approaching the mainstream.
Stylistically, they are working in a crowded field but there is more than enough about them that is different to separate them from what could be considered their peers. With a debut album a dynamism and solidity is always needed to make it stand out and grab the attention of promoters, agents, 'bloggers,' etc, something that many fail to achieve. Ballad of Crows not only achieve that but also have the confidence to raise their game to that of a much recorded band who are totally confident in their ability to perform the music they visualise. A hugely rewarding debut that augurs well for the future.
No website as yet, but the following is their facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/BalladofCrows?fref=ts