Murphy Lane is not a location, but takes its name from the band's founders and driving forces David Murphy and Jeff Lane.
Murphy, who writes all the music, is from Co.Cork in Ireland while Lane is a lyricist from Derbyshire in the English Midlands. They split the vocal duties 50-50 and eight other musicians feature on the record.
They describe their songs as deriving from Traditional and Contemporary American, English and Irish folk music. Of these it is the American sources that are most evident.
'Alabama Valentine', for example, reworks lines from Oh Susannah and 'Business As Usual' tells a Dylanesque tale of growing up on the wrong side of the tracks.
This debut album oozes good taste and musical expertise but in
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the process creates a sanitised version of roots music. The old weird sound of American folk / country blues still sounds fresh and strange because of the raw vitality of the recordings. If you take this away you just get a glossier version which ends up being safe and bland.
As a exercise in style, Murphy Lane's mainstream Americana is a success but if you want a record that captures the ragged glory of the old time sound you should look elsewhere.
13t - 54.40m
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