State Of The Union
EP: Rent
Label: Reveal
Tracks: 4
Website: http://www.stateoftheunionmusic.com
The very special relationship between totally ace songwriters/guitarists (how else to describe them?) Brooks Williams and Boo Hewerdine that blossomed over the course of their State Of The Union recording session and recent UK tour is further celebrated on this EP, which takes its title track from one of the cuts on their eponymous debut album - an intriguing and interestingly intuitive cover of the Pet Shop Boys' 1987 hit. That very track has been chosen to lead off this collection, the remaining three cuts having been recorded in just one day - presumably at a later date from the original session but retaining the same intense collaborative spirit. What a shame the guys couldn't have been persuaded to record another album's worth, so marvellous are these recordings - they bring their flair for interpretation and exceptional simpatico playing to sublime, at times understated covers of Dave Alvin's slightly Dylanesque King Of California, Mercury Prize Nominee Alt J's pithy Breezeblocks, and - arguably best of all - Guy Clark's Boats To Build (co-penned with Verlon Thompson), Americana at its very finest. In fact, none of these songs were previously familiar to me, so thanks lads for enabling us to discover them. More, please - and soon!

David Kidman