The Good Intentions
Album: Travelling Companion
Label: Drumfire
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.thegoodintentions.co.uk

Call me partisan but I have to say that the far North West of England, between the Mersey and the Ribble Estuaries has produced some of the finest writers of Americana music this country has ever had. I'm thinking here of Michael Weston King [Southport], Gary Hall [Preston] and last but not least Peter Davies [Liverpool].

Peter is the singer, songwriter and guitarist with The Good Intentions who have just released their third album "Travelling Companion" on Drumfire Records [also the home of Michael's band My Darling Clementine].

The Good Intentions are a trio consisting of Peter, Gabrielle Monk [they are husband and wife] and Francesco Roskell. This album was recorded in California with American producer Rick Shea and a stellar line-up of sidemen including Rick, Greg Leisz, David Jackson, Marc Doten, Dave Raven, Brantly Kearns and Aubrey Richmond. Rick Shea has previously worked with Dave Alvin, Los Lobos and REM [amongst others] whilst pedal steel guitarist Greg Leisz has played on a vast number of recordings by major artists including The Eagles, Bruce Springsteen, Joni Mitchell, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss and John Fogerty [to name but a few]. Greg has recently toured as a member of Eric Clapton's band. Brantly Kearns [fiddle] is probably best known for his work with Dwight Yoakam.

Clearly, this was some band that Rick Shea put together for this album. Of course, you can hire the best musicians around but this means nothing unless you have the essential ingredient- good songs. And, I am happy to say that this ingredient is present, in abundance, on this album.

Although songwriter Peter and Gabrielle are from Liverpool and not Nashville, they are extremely well- versed in the folklore and traditions of Country Music. So much so that Peter's songs have a ring of authenticity about them which make them sound as though they could have been written at any time in the last sixty years.

Of the eleven songs on the album, ten are originals written by Peter. The only non-original is A.P.Carter's "Gold Watch And Chain", which is the opening track on the album. Peter sings lead vocals with Gabrielle either duetting with him or singing harmonies, along with Francesco. Peter has a fine voice, which, to me, is quite similar in tone to that of Iain Matthews [which is not at all a bad thing] To his credit, Peter does not adopt a faux American accent, which makes his voice sound natural and unforced. One of the notable things about The Good Intentions is their harmony singing, which recalls that of Country music pioneers, such as the Carter Family.

Peter's songs cover some traditional Country music themes, such as death, infidelity, heartbreak and trains.

One of my favourites, from having it heard performed live several times, is "Colfax Town" which Peter wrote about a visit that he and Gabrielle made to a former Goldrush town in California. When they arrived in the town, they discovered that a would-be bank robber had just been shot dead by the police. The song tells the story of a desperate man who " only staked his claim but he did it with a sawn- off gun". Fine song.

"A Driver's Farewell" is a lovely track, full of railway imagery about a driver who is reaching "the end of the line" and is bidding farewell. The song features some great dobro playing which adds to the mournful atmosphere of the piece.

There's a complete change of style for the next track "Black Dog Blues" which explores the legend , famously associated with Robert Johnson, of selling one's soul to the Devil in exchange for musical prowess. Of course, you can't cheat the Devil of what you owe him and that black dog will be on your trail. This track has a Rockabilly feel to it and it really swings.

Another fine song is "Hank's Last Ride" which tells the story of the last night in the life of Hank Williams [New Year's Eve 1952]. Peter manages to condense Hank's life into three verses and the band do a fine job of recreating the sound of The Drifting Cowboys, particularly the haunting sound of the pedal steel and fiddle. Peter even adds some yodelling at the end of the song!

"Pull The Jailhouse Down" is an excellent slice of Country Rock, which has certain echoes of The Flying Burrito Brothers' song "Sin City" both lyrically and musically. Greg Leisz's pedal steel sounds uncannily like that of the Burrito's Sneaky Pete Kleinow and Rick Shea's mandolin playing recalls that of Chris Hillman.

"I Dreamed About You" was written after Gabrielle had a dream about her grandmother and woke thinking that she was there but then realising that she was not. It is one of Peter's song that sounds as though it could have been sung in a parlour a century ago, such is its timeless quality.

The mood changes for "According To A Witness", which is a fiddle-driven tale of infidelity, robbery, death, jealousy and retribution - a typical Country song in other words!

The closing track "Paul The Apostle" is an intensely moving track which is addressed to the memory of an old friend and looks forward to the day they will be reunited -"I'll see you on the shore". The lyrics have biblical overtones which may or may not relate to the Day of Judgment -"When our life's meaning is shown to us some day".

The song [and album ]finish with a reading[ in Welsh] from the Welsh Bible by actor Ioan Gruffudd, of "Hornblower" fame. This is an unusual but highly poignant conclusion to what is an excellent album by The Good Intentions.

If anyone out there still has any doubts about British artists performing Americana music, I would strongly advise them to listen to this superb album which will dispel those doubts forthwith.

Peter Cowley