The Shires
Album: Brave
Label: Universal
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.theshiresmusic.com/

As the popularity of Country music continues at a pace to match Lewis Hamilton, here comes another band to appeal to all lovers of C&W music.

This band has a real Nashville feel to it but is in fact a British duo. Sounding incredibly like Lady Antebellum who I thought they were the first time I heard them on Radio 2, The Shires are here to stay. I bought the album on the back of just one track, "State Lines" and have since been listening almost non-stop to it.

The band or duo comprises Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes whose voices complement each other perfectly in both tone and balance. Fabulous melodies, harmonies and backing, this album has a bit of everything. They are currently on tour and have a number of festivals booked for the summer. They are even appearing at the Grand Ole Opry in June. Deserved recognition in The States beckons!

Ben has been performing and writing songs for about ten years at one time supporting K T Tunstall. He then posted a request on Facebook for a country singer to work with him and up popped Crissie. Such coincidental occurrences are the things that dreams are made of and this seems to be a match made in heaven.

This may ostensibly be a country album but do not expect to only hear songs in the traditional format of Nashville music. Ben and Crissie are obviously proud of their roots which is evident throughout the album. For example, "Made in England" which is nothing like the Elton John song, includes a line about having Fish & Chips on a Friday. Can you get more English than that?

From the first track, "Tonight" to the last track "How Many Love Songs" which highlights the purity of Crissie's voice just perfectly, this album is jam packed with catchy tunes and imaginative lyrics. Guaranteed to get your feet tapping and your hips moving even when seated, I challenge anyone not to find a track on here that they like, it is so varied. Not often that you hear a song that is able to get you moving on the subject of "Jekyll and Hyde." As Edina and Patsy would say "Absolutely Fabulous!"

Rory Stanbridge