With a banjo on his knee, a harmonica in his pocket and a song in his heart, Welshman Christopher Rees musically evokes the dusty highways of Americana far from the green, green grass of home.
Rees' roving spirit has led him to travel throughout the USA, and this accounts for the distinctly twangy slant of this record.
On Lover, Oh Lover, he begs his partner to keep the home fire burning while he gets this wanderlust out of his system.
However, the single, and opening track, Alright Squires is proof that he has no intention of abandoning his roots. This song is a tribute to Llanelli born Dorothy Squires, a singer in the Shirley Bassey mould who thrilled crowds but "died with nothing".
The album, which was recorded in various Welsh locations, has a resilient spirit and an affirmative mood; this is exemplified in the make hay while the sun shines message of the closing track - The Corner.
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Its weakness lies the absence of poetic content. The lyrics are either overly simplistic :"Happy all our days will be, As I love you and you love me" (Raise My Head); or heavily clichéd Shine, shine, shine so bright; Under the moonlit night (Tonight We'll Dance)
So, while Rees shows he has plenty of heart and soul, the tunes lack any real punch.
Christopher Rees' website
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