The Great Western Tears
Album: The Great Western Tears(EP)
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 4
Website: http://www.thegreatwesterntears.com

The Great Western Tears is a country band hailing from Oxfordshire, built around the songwriting talents of frontman-vocalist David Waterhouse and guitarist Garry Richardson and steeped in authentic Americana roots music.

The four songs on their debut EP showcase the variety of styles with which they're comfortable, from a straight-shooter Man In Black-inspired number stemming from an unfortunate experience supporting the Cash Band to the gloriously melancholy soft-swing shuffle Bid Her Well and the wistful Emily's Eyes, on through to the more good-time barroom Sittin' On The Stoop. David's wonderfully deep, rich, throaty lead vocal does indeed recall Mr Cash himself, although with almost as much of the Nick Cave sepulchral quality on occasion, and he sounds especially good when supported by the harmony vocals of band member Fern Thornton and the characterful pedal steel of Kurt Hamilton.

The total sound of this band is commendably powerful, gritty and yet understated and refreshingly unmannered, and it gets right into the listener's psyche almost without trying. There's self-evidently plenty more to come from this band, and their forthcoming full-lengther should be something to savour too when it arrives.

David Kidman