You can’t escape the theme of the murder and revenge ballad
if you have any keen interest in country, folk and Americana music. Whether via
traditional song being kept alive through the generations or the contemporary
composition, the theme takes on omnipresent proportions. Canadian
singer-songwriter Lynne Hanson has chosen the latter route and decided to not
just pen a single song, but fill an album with such tracks. The result is a
mesmeric collection of seven dark pieces, splendidly assembled under the title
7 DEADLY SPINS. Halloween may have been the orchestrated release day, but there
is a timeless appeal to these numbers presenting morbidity in an entertaining
way.
Lynne first crossed my path several years ago when opening
for Gretchen Peters on one of her several Bilston gigs over the last decade or
so. Lynne’s lively performance that evening created a lingering memory and this
was backed up by enjoying her previous record RIVERS OF SAND. That album
received considerable written praise from trusted sources and a similar flow of
‘penned’ love is emerging in the wake of this current release.
All seven songs began life as Lynne Hanson inspirations with
three of them inviting a little co-written help to reach recording point. Lyrically,
the songs peak with the prominent line ‘I sleep with one eye open and a shotgun
by my side’, forming the centre-piece of ‘Cecil
Hotel’. This is certainly one song venue not on the welcoming list, nor are
many other locations where Lynne sets her gruesome tales.
Musically, the record
is packed with your usual array of sounds blessing the associated genre such as
haunting guitars, evocative percussion, atmospheric organ and a few other
inventive inclusions.There is a sleazy undercurrent to the first three tracks
with the ‘Water’s Edge’ possessing a
similarity to the previously mentioned Gretchen Peters on her BLACKBIRDS album.
Additionally there are echoes of Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams and Rosanne
Cash detected throughout the record. These associations create an air of positivity
around an artist suggesting the blossoming years are ahead of her.
The pace and rhythm to the record increases towards it
conclusion with a slight raise during ‘Run
Johnny Run’ and full on rock ‘n’ roll presenting album closer ‘First One’s Free’. At this point
immersion into the delightfully contorted world of Lynne Hanson’s desire to
explore eerie themes is complete. ‘Porch music with a little red dirt’ is the
perfect moniker attached to her music and this brief collection of undesirable
song subjects adds an element of imagination to a lifelong challenge to seek
creative literate inspiration.
Lynne had stellar help in making this record from her
backing band The Good Intentions and a production steering from esteemed fellow
Canadian artist Lynn Miles. The pair also worked together on RIVERS OF SAND
suggesting that their partnership has been fruitful. Lynne Hanson is set to
continue her quest for more UK recognition with a planned visit next summer and
there will be plenty of life (or death) left in 7 DEADLY SPINS for it to
feature prominently. In the meantime, the album in its recorded format is
tantalisingly sitting there for you to make a valuable addition to your
collection.
www.lynnehanson.com