Reviews
Artist:My Darling Clementine Album: Country Darkness
Label: Fretsore
Tracks: 12
Website: https://mydarlingclementinemusic.co.uk/
My Darling Clementine [ MDC] are the married duo Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish , who began performing together as MDC in 2010 . They specialise in re-inventing the sound of the classic country duet , pioneered by duos such as George Jones and Tammy Wynette and Johnny Cash and June Carter.
Over the last ten years MDC have released a series of superb country and country-soul albums, namely "How Do Plead ?" , "The Reconciliation ?" , "The Other Half" and "Still Testifying".
Their latest album [ also released over 3 limited edition EP's] is "Country Darkness" in which they re-set a dozen songs by Elvis Costello as country duets. They are ably assisted by none other than Steve Nieve, the original keyboard player with The Attractions, who was an essential, integral element of the Elvis Costello sound. Here, Steve contributes keyboards and arrangements.
Lou Dalgleish is no stranger to the songs of Elvis Costello , having written and appeared in a play "They Call Her Natasha" which was based on several Costello compositions.
Elvis Costello is clearly steeped in country music. In 1981 he recorded his "Almost Blue" album of country covers in Nashville and also recorded a duet with George Jones of his song "Stranger In The House" , which also makes an appearance here on "Country Darkness" . Michael and Lou give it the full My Darling Clementine feisty duet treatment that it deserves.
"Country Darkness" begins with a magisterial country-soul rendition of "Either Side Of The Same Town" from Elvis' 2004 album "Delivery Man". Here, it is given the full Southern Soul treatment and has a similar theme and feel to the Dan Penn/ Spooner Oldham classic "Dark End Of The Street".
One my favourite albums by Elvis Costello is "King Of America" and I believe that Michael Weston King is quite fond of it too. Here we have a gorgeous rendition of the self-mocking "I'll Wear It Proudly" where the singer proclaims that "If they had a King of Fools then I would wear that crown".
Michael and Lou do full justice to Costello's lyrics with great harmony vocals and evocative piano from Steve Nieve.
The second cover from "King Of America" is one of my favourite Costello songs, the superb "Indoor Fireworks" which is given a simple but subtle piano arrangement .
The track that sounds most like Elvis and The Attractions is the upbeat , uptempo "The Crooked Line" [ from 2009's "Secret Profane and Sugarcane"] where Steve Nieve revisits his trademark organ sound which featured on so many of Elvis' early hits.
"Different Finger" [ from 1981's "Trust" album] has an atmospheric , accordion-led Tex Mex feel on a song about a clandestine , apparently adulterous affair on which the other party is asked to " please put your rings on a different finger if you meet me tonight". In typical My Darling Clementine style , Michael and Lou are most convincing as the unfaithful lovers.
The only non-Elvis written song is a new composition by My Darling Clementine called "Powerless" which features as a bonus track . It's an unbearably sad country-soul ballad and stands up well alongside the Costello compositions.
In summary, this is a hugely impressive album from My Darling Clementine and Steve Nieve. They have taken the incisive lyrics of a master songwriter and have re-fashioned them in their own , inimitable style. The combination of Elvis Costello's songs and My Darling Clementine is irresistible.
Peter Cowley
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