Tom Russell
Album: Love & Fear/Song Of The West
Label: Floating World
Tracks: 10/15
Website: http://www.tomrussell.com/

Los Angeles native, but very much Texan at heart, Tom Russell has, over several years of touring, built himself a great following here in the UK, of fans charmed by his music, stories and personality, as such this struck me as a very interesting duo of Tom's CD's to remaster and re-release together, but actually it works as a flavour of his sound over a decade.

I was amazed to realise how long ago Love and Fear was first released, but it is every bit as striking now as nine years ago. Listening to the lyrics, it is apparent that the songs are ostensibly about just that; love and fear. Songs of people, real lives, stories, chances taken, regrets, growing old, Texans and Mexicans. Standout tracks for me include Stealing Electricity (a song which has found its place as a live favourite), Pugilist at 59 (which surely is at least in part autobiographical,) The Sound of One Heart Breaking and the achingly beautiful Ash Wednesday; a duet with his friend and collaborator, Gretchen Peters.

Song of The West, as the title suggests, showcases a different, yet equally as stirring, side to Russell's writing; cowboy songs. These songs are mostly written by Tom or co-written with legendary songwriter Ian Tyson. South Coast is contributed by Ramblin' Jack Elliott an the collection Ends with Mary McCaslin's Prairie in the Sky. Tom's long time music collaborator Andrew Hardin contributes to a stunning version of Gallo del Cielo.

Rambler, Gambler, Banks of the Musselshell, The Ballad of William Sycamore and Claude Dallas, to name but four; songs about people, cowboys, roads travelled, lives lived and journeys made in the west. Journeys we feel like we have shared with these characters, and new friends we feel like we have made.

A must for all Tom Russell fans, this re-release would be a great introduction for those just starting out on their travels through his collection.

Helen Mitchell