The name may not be familiar but a solitary listen to
SHADOWBIRDS is all you need to be put under the hypnotic spell of Red Sky July.
Dig a little deeper and the trio behind the band will reveal their talents and
you can start to understand why they have just put together a record that could
well be unrivalled as the best 2014 UK release heavily slanted towards the
country and roots genre. With an optimum length of 10 tracks and 38 minutes,
not a second is wasted as the album leads you down a blissful path of heartfelt
emotion whilst tipping its hat to the core essence of Americana music.
Before we celebrate the finesse of each track, let's unveil
the prestigious background to the trio starting with Ally McErlaine who was at
the heart of the Scottish band Texas’s 15 million record sales followed closely
by his wife, Shelly, one half of 90s million selling pop act Alisha’s Attic.
The trio is completed by Charity Hair who includes The Alice Band and Blur’s
Dave Rowntree in her musical CV. Together the Red Sky July project has had some
industry doors opened for it but real momentum can develop as SHADOWBIRDS
follows up a 2011 debut release.
Whilst from top to bottom the album is soaked in a country
sound swinging from all points alt to Americana, the elegant drizzle of minor, and
not to be unexpected, pop/rock, only adds to this amalgam of sartorial elegance.
From the very start where the band have eyed some mainstream coverage with the
breezy single ‘Lay Down Your Love’
through to the dark and broody closer ‘Solitary
Woman’ the vibes of appreciation continually grow.
The enchanting qualities begin to really kick in with the
second track ‘Here Then Gone’ packed
with aching sensibilities and an upward spiral that refuses to retract. The
blended voices and country guitar twang illuminate ‘Losing You’ which references listening to Bonnie Prince Billy,
the American singer songwriter not to be confused with the historical figure of Ally’s
homeland. ‘Made for Each Other’ is a sensitivity
inspired love song drenched in choral elegance which leads into the moving and
jaw dropping track ‘New Morning Light’,
a serious candidate for stand out song if one’s arm is twisted.
On the sixth track which could be ‘Side 2 Track 1’ if this album
gets a deserved vinyl release, the band showcase a very roots orientated sound
with a slow backbeat and graceful fiddle giving ‘Renegade’ a back to basics feel. The band have invited Anglo
Italian artist Jack Savoretti to contribute to the writing and duet vocals on
the classy ‘Any Day Now’ with the smooth
effect you would expect from Jack.
To complete a record that never drops its guard, a swirling
dreamy folk feel surrounds title track ‘Shadowbirds’
while there are significant hoedown vibes to the fiddle adorned bubbly
optimistic number ‘Warm My Heart’.
Throughout each song Ally and his accompanying pack of Glasgow based musicians
serenade and guide the wonderful vocals of Shelly and Charity which are both
sublime and divine.
Red Sky July started the year playing support to Beth
Nielsen Chapman on her UK tour and could well end it headlining with one of
their own to take this excellent record on the road. SHADOWBIRDS may be a left
field entrant to the race for the Best of 2014 but it is usually now when the
heat is turned up. This album has unlimited potential and has certainly put a
marker down as a contender.
www.redskyjuly.com
