The Emperors Of Wyoming
Album: The Emperors Of Wyoming
Label: Proper
Tracks: 10
Website: https://www.facebook.com/emperorsofwyoming

Just down the street from Let It Rock, McLaren and Westwood's attempts to reinvent Ted on the Kings Road in the early 70s, Billy Murphy's vintage clothes emporium The Emperor of Wyoming helped dress the coolest outsiders stirring the melting pot of Americana on London's proto-punk pub rock scene. Where else was the discerning Brinsley bandsman or wannabe 101-er to get their Westernwear?

He took the shop's name from the opening track on Neil Young's 1968 solo debut and both connections seem to suit the four disparate desperados that constitute The Emperors of Wyoming and their first album's blend of jangly power pop, punk, country & western, folk, spaghetti western themes, surf's up sunshine pop and good ol' boys hillbilly bounce.

Meet the folks - Butch Vig, arch knob twiddler for Nirvana, Garbage, Green Day, Sonic Youth et al; Phil Davis, Vig's former partner in cult band Fire Town; film director Franklin Lee and muso turned Napa Valley wine blender Peter Anderson. The four of them used to play in bands in Madison, Wisconsin in the late 70s. These days they all have home studios and leapt at the chance to make the album they coulda, maybe shoulda, done in 1979.

And it's been worth the wait - well, to the extent that anyone other than the four of them knew the world was waiting for it at all. It's a glorious, frequently life-affirming blast of roots heavy American rock with an eye on shiny chords, crafty hooks and stunning melodies. There is some beautiful guitar playing on the radio-friendly Cruel Love Ways, while Davis' warm vocals light up the charming psyche-pop of The Bittersweet Sound of Goodbye.

The whole thing comes together beautifully on the album's closing triptych as Sweep Away cries bittersweet tears before giving way to the rusty nailed grunge of The Pinery Boy and an earnest version of John Martyn's old school spiritual charmer Bless the Weather to reiterate the Emperors' consummate good taste and noble ability.

Nick Churchill
www.thegranvillechambers.co.uk