I have no
idea what authentic means. Well
that's not strictly true. Of course I know what it means, but what
I'm really getting at is that when people bandy the term about I
don't really get what 'they' mean.
If it's
the fifties and an artist uses the technology and instruments
available to him or her to record a handful of songs, then why is
that strictly authentic while someone doing likewise in the present
using the same technology and such, is described as 'sounding'
authentic?
If it's
the same process, the same approach and the same final outcome, then
what is there to hang your hat on to claim a difference?
Maybe
it's a pedantic point, but also maybe worth mentioning as this takes
me to the debut album from Sam Doores, Riley Downing and the
Tumbleweeds, a release that can't seem to shake the 'sounding
authentic' tag.
I've got
news for people.
It sounds
authentic because it is.
Between
them the band stir a pot pourri of influences and embrace their love
for country, the blues and American folk music as each floats to the
surface.
There's
something quite magical about it all.
I can
never really describe what the attraction to me is when people get
together and make music that I feel this comfortable with.
I've used
the term aural alchemy before, and that's exactly what I hear.
Individual
musicians taking a little bit of this and a little bit of that and
weaving gold out of it.
This
doesn't so much sound as if it is from another time, but more so from
outside time.
When
music is played so well, and with this amount of heartfelt passion,
then it really does transcend when it was recorded, and this is an
album that does that with a great deal of aplomb.
I
sincerely do hope that Sam Doores does manage to get back to the UK
in 2013 with the rest of his band mates by his side this time.
If they
do I'll be front and centre to experience this in all its glory.
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