Francis Pugh and the Whisky Singers
Album: A Place Back West
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 4
Website: http://www.whiskysingers.com

An Oxford-based bluegrass sextet, they've been knocking around the local scene for a couple of years and this EP would seem to be their second release, the follow up to 2013 debut album 'Here In The Night'. It's a short but sweet affair featuring three tracks (and a radio edit of the title number), two of which come from hoarse-voiced singer James Robson, first up being the title cut with its acappela intro harks to old dustbowl spirituals before the banjos kick in and the track takes on a sort of reggae rhythm lurch with added cornet and the other, 'You Can't Fix A Heart That's Been Broken', more of a fiddle and brass led shuffling bounce.

The third number is straightahead bluegrass picking with a version of Hank Williams 'I Saw The Light' which is suitably foot stomping, but doesn't really add anything special to the hundreds of other versions and probably is best heard live. It's fair enough window dressing for the current dates, but I'll hold overall judgement until the new album rolls around.

Mike Davies