British country folk duo Rosie Jones and Zoe Nicol lived the
dream for a short while as they recorded their debut album in Nashville. Now
that dream turns into a tangible reality as the record gears up for its
release. Under their performing name of Worry Dolls, Rosie and Zoe are the proud
architects of GO GET GONE, a delightful compendium of ten roots orientated
tracks packed full of tender country sensibilities. Under the esteemed stewardship
of producer Nielson Hubbard, this is no blueprint product, just a beautiful evolution
expertly guided to extract the depth of the talent.
Without going too deep into national boundaries, there is a
remarkable similarity in the tones of this record to that which emanates from
the current crop of contemporary Canadian folk artists. The name Madison Violet
continually comes to the fore while listening to this album and by comparison
standards that should be taken as a hefty compliment. The major track which
drives this assertion is the piano led ‘She
Don’t Live Here’, one of five songs which have brighter illumination at
the stage where these thoughts are shared with the outside world.
Whilst Worry Dolls is very much a writing team, help has
regularly been at hand to curate these songs although Zoe is credited alone for
‘Passport’. Familiar assistance is
noted via the names Ben Glover and the Wild Ponies team, Doug and Telisha
Williams. The latter two have featured prominently on the album’s promotional
track, ‘Bless Your Heart’, adding
their playing prowess to the writing involvement. Both songs mentioned here are
amongst the key five indicated and chief reasons to why this album will meet
the approval of many folks who enter its luscious sphere of entrapment.
My personal favourite has settled on the country waltz number
‘Miss You Already’, a prized memory
of their Nashville stint and hopefully set to blossom in the listening venues
around the land as the record undertakes its touring ritual. The gut of this
album hosts the craft of song creation awash with pristine vocal harmonies and
a predominant roots sound relying on banjo, fiddle and acoustic guitar. Layers
of pedal and lap steel provide the hazy faint feel and you are never too far
away from a sound evidencing the majesty of folk induced country music, often generically
housed under the Americana banner.
The harmonica opening, and later welcome intrusion, breathes
vital life into ‘Things Always Work Out’,
the fifth out of five tracks jumping ahead in the appreciation stakes. This is
not intended to undermine the other half of the record which has seriously good
moments, blending delectable hooks and more challenging pieces luring curious
listens.
The ultimate strength of the album is the identity that Zoe
and Rosie have stamped on it, keeping it free of pseudo interpretation while
embedding a precious slice of Americana. Enticing repeat listens enhances its
credibility and it is loaded with immense potential to launch Worry Dolls as a pre-eminent
UK purveyor of seriously impressive country, folk and Americana music. In tough
times the mere strength of an album may not develop into a desired level of
commercial payback, but impressions of Worry Dolls growing profile shows
promise that this is achievable. If making a damn good record is just the
start, then Zoe Nicol and Rosie Jones have accomplished the first feat giving
GO GET GONE a great chance of reaching and satisfying many ears.
www.worrydollsmusic.com