Paul Armer & The Dawn Chorus - Heartaches &
Mistakes
Release Date: Out Now
I've been a fan of Westcountry troubadour Paul Armer for quite some time now so I was excited to hear what he could do with the backing of a full band in the shape of the Dawn Chorus. 'Heartaches & Mistakes' is a six track collection of bluegrass fun that opens with the title track and immediately we're transported to the back of a pick-up truck racing through the endlessly flat landscape of the mid-west as the banjo is furiously plucked, forcing the rest of the band to keep up. On 'There She Goes' the pace slows slightly as befits a song full of heartache and endings while 'Moonshine Shadow' slows to walking pace to allow Armer's voice to stretch out a little and tell a tale of the loneliness of the wandering minstrel.
'Muddy Water' is perhaps the most commercial of the tracks (Radio 2 friendly for sure) with banjo prominent but not dominant and the melody as infectious as it is perky. By the time we reach 'I Just Want To Know' we're well on our way to a log cabin in the Appalachian Mountains ready to sit on the stoop and enjoy the lilting melodies these four gents are so effortlessly adept in creating. It is final track 'Something That Will Never Be Mine', however, that captures the imagination and shows you the sun setting over the horizon as those evocative vocals transport you across the Atlantic from the back roads of Cornwall to the open plains of ol' America. The band are heading out on an extensive UK tour and, if I was a gambling man, I'd say they'll garner a gaggle of fans this side of the pond but the possibilities are endless for a group with this much talent, heart and stories to tell.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/paularmermusic
Live Dates:
19th November - The Stables, Milton Keynes w/Gangstagrass
20th November - Social, Hull w/Gangstagrass
21st November - The Parish, Huddersfield w/Gangstagrass
22nd November - The Venue, Dumfries w/Gangstagrass
23rd November - The Cluny, Newcastle w/Gangstagrass
25th November - The Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh w/Gangstagrass
26th November - Stereo, Glasgow w/Gangstagrass
27th November - Gorilla, Manchester w/Gangstagrass
28th November - Acapela Studio, Cardiff w/Gangstagrass
29th November - The Garage, London w/Gangstagrass
30th November - Thekla, Bristol w/Gangstagrass