They may have pop up status as an active band but when The Long Haul start the engine and move through the gears they make damn fine music. Their 2017 album BEAUTIFUL LIES drew much praise here, and four years later it is de ja vu as its successor in terms of original music hits the shelves. Technicalities pose 21ST CENTURY BLUES has this Brighton band's 3rd album as a covers release is also in the vaults. While such an album can have merits there is something extra special when a batch of new tunes appear with a straightforward nod to projecting a certain style into the future. The style here is heavily slanted towards a traditional Texas country state of mind. Start in any old time dance hall in the Lone Star state and branch out to all points of the compass. Austin gets championed as a core but exclusivity is not a done deal, especially when shuffling Sussex gets in on the act.
The Long Haul Band operate as a five piece with a steady make up of drums, bass and the triple guitar take of acoustic, electric lead and pedal steel. You could have the latter up front as there is no great surprise that much of the album powers along with this fine package of twang firmly in the driving seat.
A quick delve into the songwriting credits sees three of the band chip in on that axis with a fourth member coordinating things on a promotional front from the rear. That person is the most well known member, and if you have an active interest in the UK Americana circuit the name of Scott Warman will be familiar. You will also be aware of his many projects, probably an inkling as to why this incarnation pops up at infrequent moments.
Right from the opening bars of 'Satellite Game Show Sky', you sense a winner is about to emerge. There is nothing too complex from the subsequent ten tracks to follow, just a combined saunter down an old time road of music tested, tried and capable of finding those melody strewn coat hangers in your mind.
Subtleties are left on the shelf and standard templates come into play including the habitual split gender duet that appears in 'Dangerous Things' and features later as well. Songs to make you dance, weep and drink freely flow with 'Shoulder to Cry On' falling into the first two categories and maybe the third if you stretch the imagination. Four tracks in and this song two steps out in front with a challenge for the rest of the album to follow in its wake. 'Lonestar State' makes a vaunted effort and is explicit in the roaming intentions that flirt on the mind of an exiled lover of music that swings, shuffles and aches to the beat of a broken heart.
By the time 'Haulin'', the album's sole instrumental, rocks and rolls along at the midway point, a scene is embedded and we are truly in the arms of Western Swing paying homage to everybody who dances to a beat immortalised by Bob Wills, Asleep at the Wheel, Hot Club of Cowtown and many other acts practising an art form born of fused styles. We then enter waltz territory, hardly a surprise and perfectly executed in the title track '21st Century Blues'.
Leading the last quartet of tracks is 'Babylon' and another from the waltz mode hosting some detected mandolin to conduct the swaying. Lyrically the theme resoundingly recalls remembrance and likely to have personal connection. 'Only Game in Town' is a straight up rock 'n' roller before we end up with a pair of tracks borrowed from the country music playbook. 'Two Step Recovery' is an interesting play on words before the obligatory drinking song brings the curtain down in 'Me and Wine'.
21ST CENTURY BLUES is packed to the hilt with catchy numbers and worthy of consideration for anybody interested in a fresh home-grown take on country music that swings, beats and kicks up dust like it was meant to do. The Long Haul drew from a secure and strong formula but join the dots with an added shine and have made an album ready to put a smile on faces. What more do you want and what is better than a good ole slice of traditional country music?
