Somebody's Darling
Album: Jank City Shakedown
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 10
Website: http://somebodysdarling.com

In the early nineties my old man started an association with Sky that lasts to today. As soon as he found out he could watch live cricket from the West Indies he signed that direct debit mandate and the winter tours no longer consisted of a half hour, late night highlights package. One of the fringe benefits was MTV and, a couple of years later, CMT Europe. One of the most memorable tracks from that time was You'll Remember Me by Norwegian pop/country duo Somebody's Darling.

Now, admittedly Jank City Shakedown didn't sound like the title of an album that they would release but I hadn't thought about them for two decades and maybe there had been a change of direction.

So this wasn't the reunion I was hoping for; there was to be no sounds from the Norwegian fjords (stereotype I know) but a glorious noise from a Texan bar room (sorry, another sterotype). If Alabama Shakes or Phantom Limb are your thing then listening to Somebody's Darling is a must.

This is their second album, following up on the now three year old self titled debut and was recorded in ten days following a successful kickstarter campaign and released on their own label. It is chock full of rootsy guitars, soaring keys and Amber Farris' passionate vocals. The majority of the tracks rock along at a fair old lick - there have been plenty who have traveled this particular road, there will be plenty who travel it in the future but there will be few who travel it with such verve.

Somebody's Darling have everything you could want in a roots rocking band.

John 'The Jacket' Hawes