This is Red Sky July's second album and it sets its heart directly for the middle of the Americana road so much so it's a wonder the cd doesn't have a white stripe down its middle, this comes as no surprise having heard them play a few live sessions on Radio London they go out of their way to sound pleasant and nice.
They are the band formed by Ally McErlaine from Texas and his wife Shelly Poole from Alisha's Attic along with the wonderfully named Charity Hair a former model and member of The Alice Band.
The opener Lay Down Your Love sounds like something I'd expect from Mary Coughlan it's a nice love song that sets the tempo for the album at Radio 2 mid-morning.
Here Then Gone and Losing You seem to blend into one as a laid back almost Fleetwood Mac song about love falling apart it's very pleasant and Shelly Pooles voice is pretty seductive if also at times a bit nondescript. Yet these songs sound perfectly good when heard by themselves on the radio and I keep hearing Losing You and it always sounds good.
Made for each other is a very winsome love song almost yearning and keening as the declaration of love is played out over restrained country twanging that is just a touch too syrupy for me. New Morning Light is pure maple syrup for the ears with lovely harmonies and barely there backing making a beautifully inoffensive sound that sounds so restrained like they are afraid to let go.
Renegade is a soft and sepulchral song played over a slowly strummed harp or is it a violin being plucked Pizzicatto style as they tell us how the love that's left should take their souls as well as hearts it is so slow and careful like they are in a stupor from too many anti-depressants and can barely speak let alone speak this elegy to the departed lover.
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Any Day now features guest vocals from Jack Savoretti who sounds almost gruff in this company on a ballad that makes the Carpenters seem properly edgy. That blends almost seamlessly into Shadowbirds another beautiful and oh so nice winsome country folk song.
Warm My heart sounds almost like square dance music it's quite the most infectious thing on the album and has quite a swing to it. Just about as close they get to making a song you can dance too.
Solitary Woman sticks out for having the most amazing intro of Bass and bass drum I think very slow almost African talking drum that then develops into an explanation as to why she wants to live alone but still be with the man of her desire only not all the time it has a very 3 in the morning getting emotional after a couple of glasses of red wine too many feel to it but a very cool closing number.
I'd recommend this album to anyone who wants an overwhelmingly nice soft and gentle countryish album to listen to.
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