Third offering from Norfolk’s finest sons and daughters. I’ve seen various articles and reviews ever since they first hit the scene with Reservoir — the marvellous debut from two years ago. From what I’ve read, it would be easier for me to mention bands that they haven’t been compared to. I’ll do mine later.
This is a great album, from a band rapidly honing their craft. Norfolk has, in recent years, given us the marvellous Let’s Eat Grandma, but Brown Horse now offer a real clarion call for the area, offering a rich blend of sound, emanating out of the cosiness of Norwich waterhole, The Walnut Tree (Shades), rising over Mousehold Heath and way, way beyond.
The album starts as it means to go on, with the fabulous ‘Sorrow Reigns’ A song which could possibly be about a Norwich, ‘Prince of Wales Rd’ encounter or anywhere else in the world perhaps? ‘Twisters‘ chugs along nicely with Patrick Turner wishing for a lightning bolt “to cut me right through” I could imagine Mike Scott singing this one.
I love ‘Comeback Loading’ . The lyrics read like a letter to a long lost friend, while musically, again taking us off onto another road journey. Hopefully the camper van won’t break down, as it does in the accompanying video. There are tempo changes, ‘Hares’ being the first of the slow burners, whilst ‘Heart of the Country is laced with a sprinkling of prime Crazy Horse groove. After each album, which so far have been annually, there seems to have been progress made, clearly helped by having so many songwriters amongst their ranks to call on.
Without being held accountable for the many subjective comparisons, it is undoubtedly apparent on listening to them, that here is a group of people who love music……and songwriting. Ok, my turn with the comparisons, here we go…There’s possibly a ghostly sprinkling of Mark Lanegan, definitely some Doug Martsch, and a pinch of Felice Brothers, Mike Cooley, Jason Molina, even Wilco, here and there. Subjective? Hell Yeah! They’re about to embark on their first American tour, where they should fit right in, but you can catch them in the UK when they return for some autumn dates in October.
Total Dive — I feel there’s more to come from this band. I say stick along with them for the ride, because this Brown Horse has golden hooves.
Total Dive is out now on Loose Music.