Brad Heller & The Fustics
Album: American Burden
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.bradhellerandthefustics.com

The Wilmington, North Carolina roots-rockers here deliver their fourth album, which by all accounts provides persuasive evidence of Brad’s own developing songwriting identity. So the proof should be there in the listening, and for much of the album it is – although in truth (and especially on initial acquaintance) it’s all too easy at first to write the disc off for its in places seemingly rather odd mixture of the highly satisfying and the comparatively mundane. Deceptively as it turns out… when the opening track, Vigilante Blues, feels like comparatively routine country-rock, and the ensuing title number and Lynchburg Queen don’t impress much on the listener either. But things seem to improve from then on in, with decent contrasts and more sensitive texturings and tender vocal work (Leather Chair) or gently brooding atmospherics (the sinister rustic Portal Road and the late-night-clubroom ambience of Sordid Life).

There’s also a Creedence-influenced soul-swamp stomper (My Only Days) to stir the pot; only with the catchy Out Of Work (Blues) does Heller revert to the rockier, guitar-riff-driven climes of the opening cuts, and his parting shot, the considered Through Your Time, is both deft and expressive. Returning to those first few tracks, further subtleties emerge in the light of what I experienced on the latter two-thirds of the disc, and impressions were more favourable. Third playthrough reveals even more, beginning gradually to emphasise the crafted confidence of both Heller’s songwriting and his vocal delivery.

David Kidman