The journey may be a cliche but its narrative-inducing concept lends a hand to make some great music. A conveyor belt of places, people, landscapes and sounds can stir the pot and prod the creative instinct of many an artist. NEON COWGIRL is a moving piece of self-celebration on several levels. The country heart of Music USA has always been Tami Neilson’s calling from a Canadian upbringing to New Zealand settling. A fulfilling road trip of rediscovery is the fuel that powers the sweeping sound of a record echoing so much of a heritage songbook from soaring soulful songs to raucous barroom bangers sprinkled with the odd heartfelt ballad and sincere homage numbers.
Neilson’s vocals crank into gear from the off with ‘Borrow My Boots’ raising the sass level in the vein of many a female country icon. The lavish overtones, complete with lush strings, launches ‘Foolish Heart’ into Orbison territory, pure self-admitted adulation from a young believer baptised in his music. ‘Heartbreak City, USA’ is as an explicit song title as you get and cranks up the twang to ignite even the most placid dancehall. Three songs in and Neilson serves stalwart admirers a treat and seduces the faintest of doubters. The results of a trip to seek out her inner ‘neon cowgirl’ are bustling their way into an array of a gold certified tunes.
‘Keep On’ retains the big sound while reducing the tempo. Powerhouse vocals are the redeeming feature of a record rarely holding back on production capabilities. Eventually the quintessential country weepy appears with piano being the prime accompaniment to ‘Loneliness of Love’ as we dive deep into the sad song well and re-emerge with refreshed souls amidst the odd tear. The centre point of this eleven track album is ‘Love Someone’ where soulful organ kicks off a Memphis evoking number, full of uplifting backing vocals echoing a bygone age.
Title track ‘Neon Cowgirl’ leads off the second half and is pure autographical as well as being a state of mind rather than a physical being. Whether a starry eyed kid or raising a family in her adopted home of New Zealand, the guiding light of Nashville and its ‘El Dorado’ status in country music is embedded in the DNA of Tami Neilson. The sense of its worth shivers from the tone and words oozing out of this valued track. This leads into another Orbison-inspired piece as ‘One Less Heart’ cracks the code of bass-backed ballads and carries all the scars of tear-stained tradition. ‘Salvation Mountain’ picks up the pace as your archetypal road song, name checking iconic references while rolling along with absorbing intensity. Probably the album’s deepest dip into rock ’n’ roll, leaving you well-travelled and revitalised.
The finishing line of this shared life affirming album is nearly reached with the vibrant beat of ‘U-Haul Blues’ blending the exemplar musicianship that feeds throughout with an adept voice equipped with a dexterity shining through in this two and half minute song. The parting shot sees Neilson slip into duet mode featuring JD Mcpherson on ‘You’re Gonna Fall’, a rich offering keeping things fresh right at the end.
NEON COWGIRL shows Tami Neilson harnessing an outlaw outlook with a conventional sound. It draws on multiple experiences shaping a style flourishing right across the country and Americana spectrum. New Zealand, USA and mainland Europe already embrace her music. UK pickings are still relatively untouched. This album leads the way and calls for a serious tour to back up its eminence.
