It’s hard to believe that these boys are from the remote wilderness of Norway rather than the drier climate of Nashville, such is their authenticity when applying their trade to country music. Despite the relative distance between the two countries, the duo of Roald Gullaksen (vocals/guitars) and Morten Øien (keyboards) remain determined in their efforts by holding aspirations of their own as latest album ‘Born By The Sea’ cranes its neck out over the Atlantic Ocean in an attempt to transmit its signal to its distant neighbours stateside. With an album’s worth of original material, Never Mind Band ease in to their sound with the appropriate ‘The American Dream’, only this is a tale of hardships as it tips its Stetson to the ongoing financial struggles in various towns of America. The accompanying country sound is typically robust, with Roald Gullaksen’s guitar containing a little grit but remaining nicely understated without ever straying. ‘Mayflower’ allows for optimism as it opens up with violin strings and a jaunty rhythm once the guitar and keyboards catch a ride. The skill and expertise displayed by Never Mind Band is of the highest order, and something which has evolved from the live circuit on home shores considering their impressive résumé having performed alongside such luminaries as Hellbillies, Stage Dolls, Postgirobygget, Steinar Engelbrektson band to name but a small sample. Such experience lends itself to the soul-searching expressed throughout the impressive ‘The Father’, with some clever touches involving samples from an anonymous space mission in contrast to the mission taking place down below on planet Earth. The title track of this latest album is the only giveaway as to the ancestry of this duo in relation to their music, as ‘Born By The Sea’ contains elements of Norwegian folk music that also spreads to the vocal. By catering for a balance between the everyday emotions of the infectious melody of ‘Home By Dawn’, and slower tempo of the melancholic ‘Memories From The Past’, Never Mind Band pass somewhere between a world consisting of Brad Paisley, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, and that’s not bad company to be associated with! ‘Born By The Sea’ is but one reason to suggest that a voyage overseas to the homeland of country music is futile when hearing the faithful rendition stemming from Never Mind Band, which is a quality to be greatly admired considering the distance separating these two lands.

After receiving considerable praise for their album ‘Down The Way’ (2010), namely Album of The Year at the ARIA Awards in their native Australia and recognition in countries as far afield as France, Germany and the UK, indie folk pop siblings Angus and Julia Stone are back with a brand new album. Having enlisted Rick Rubin on production duties, the quality of ‘Angus & Julia Stone’ is recognisable from the off with the entrenched sadness of ‘A Heartbreak’ that possesses a genuine haunting quality, emphasised by the trudging rhythmic pattern and downcast vocals. Previous single ‘Grizzly Bear’ sees Angus Stone pick up the mic and relay his affection for a certain somebody in his life, played out to a soulful backdrop of acoustic guitar and keys.  Comparisons can be made with the likes of Mazzy Star and, in particular, The Civil Wars during the interchanging and combined vocals of the Stone’s duo during the ongoing confessions of ‘Heart Beats Slow’. ‘Wherever You Are’ reveals the intimacy of a relationship and one almost feels a sense of prying such is the honesty expressed. The creativity button is given a nudge with the intriguing ‘Death Defying Acts’ that begins at a canter with a single guitar and Julia Stone’s engaging vocal, before the storm clouds start to loom, wonderfully highlighted by some tetchy guitar and crashing percussion, only to take a further twist with a brief spoken passage before concluding with a sting in its tail. The equal billing of vocals works wonders during ‘Other Things’, with its sleepy exchanges and ramshackle approach musically. ‘From The Stalls’ sees the duo swapping vocals once more, and again revealing much sincerity considering the cracked edges stemming from Angus Stone in particular. ‘Angus & Julia Stone’ is a remarkable record for a variety of reasons, but most importantly it is the song writing talent and manner in which the songs are presented that make this a must have addition to anyone’s record collection.

Having reviewed former single ‘My Silver Lining’ ‘ in these very pages, it is pleasing to hear that sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg have stuck to a winning formula comprising of alt-country blessed with heavenly vocals and lyrics of an introspective nature. The Stockholm-based duo sound closer to the rural south of America than their native Sweden, such is their song writing abilities and sincerity, which is captured once more by producer Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk). With the precursor that was the previously mentioned single to this latest release, lush strings and delicate melodies can often be heard throughout ‘Stay Gold’ as it’s brimming with confidence musically, with only a handful of lyrics giving the game away regarding a variety of anxieties professing to be “as big as the moon”. The trail of quality is most definitely hot throughout ‘Stay Gold’, as indicated by the sweetly addictive melody of ‘Master Pretender’, folk inspired ‘Cedar Lane’ with its huge aching heart, and topped by the waiflike and atmospheric qualities of the album’s title track. With a host of gigs and festival appearances imminent, First Aid Kit, on this current form, is the very definition of their album title as their success looks set to continue.

What began as a slightly unknown commodity in this neck of the woods turned into an immense listening experience with Charlie Rackstead and The Sticklesbergen Ramblers with their take on a whole host of ‘Norwegian Classics’. By interpreting a variety of Norwegian popular songs via country and bluegrass music not only gives the selected songs a fresh perspective, but more notably for the use of the English language that really breathes new life into these compositions. Take for example the attention grabbing banjo introduction of the Dumdum Boys classic ‘Splitter Pine’ that moves along at a brisk pace and really pricks up the ears with its English pronunciation of the latter word held in the song title. Elsewhere, ‘If I Could Be Your Sunshine’ possesses lovely lilting qualities musically, and is full of wishful thinking in its pursuit of the opposite sex, only to be brought back to down to earth with the realities of ‘Free Life’ that plods out a more robust country rhythm, which portrays the carefree attitude at the centre of this song to great effect, with Charlie Rackstead’s vocal shining in the spotlight as well with a brief stint yodelling, and it’s truly wonderful stuff! Clearly, Charlie Rackstead and The Sticklesbergen Ramblers have done their homework as ‘Norwegian Classics’ contains a measure of all things that often make a good album as there is sincerity, humour, curiosity (‘Cow In The Tunnel’) and of course undisputed talent all of which make ‘Norwegian Classics’ a much have item.

Pulling a draw faster than Billy the Kid himself, Kentucky-raised Sturgill Simpson, who now happens to be a resident of Nashville, makes a swift return with second album ‘Metamodern Sounds In Country Music’. Where debut offering ‘High Top Mountain’ excelled in tailing a steady line to the traditions of country music, as well as offering heartfelt emotions regarding family members or various frustrations concerning life’s career choices or lack of them, ‘Metamodern Sounds In Country Music’ pursues more or less the same path, only the emotions expressed are those scraping the bottommost depths of despair. With songs alluding to such periods of hopelessness, often the result of experimenting with life’s darker side as well as suffering from depression (‘Life of Sin’, ‘Voices’, ‘Long White Line’), there are also moments of hope with ‘A Little Light Within’. However, far from being a miserable experience, ‘Metamodern Sounds In Country Music’ is nothing but an enthralling ride of traditional country, with some nice touches of additional strings during lead track ‘Turtles All The Way Down’, but also one that benefits from a rawer edge in the guitar department and best experienced from ‘Life of Sin’ and ‘Living The Dream’. The wildness truly reveals itself, however, when the appropriately named ‘It Ain’t All Flowers’ sets its reverse course with guitars sucked through a vortex amidst fevered howls as the comedown digs its claws in. The nostalgic trip down memory lane of ‘Pan Bowl’ is the perfect conclusion, considering all that has gone before, and further reason why ‘Metamodern Sounds In Country Music’ is an extremely important record not only due to its inventive side, but for its honesty when chronicling life’s mistakes.

Latest album from singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne sees a departure from his more straight folk roots sound as ‘Supernova’ lends itself to the psychedelic pop and country-rock sounds prominent during a late 60s and early 70s San Francisco. Producer Dan Auerbach (Black Keys) services were called upon to help with the sonic layers of ‘Supernova’ that is certainly a lot brighter as introductory song ‘Lavender’ indicates with its summery hazy feel created by use of reverb on the  vocal, gentle strumming of acoustic guitar and use of Mellotron. The opening bars of ‘Pick Up A Gun’ blooms into a kaleidoscope of sounds and sees LaMontagne taking several steps further into less familiar territory and one full of psychedelics as there is a real sense of wanting to forget. In keeping with the dreamlike qualities of several of the songs on offer here, the lyrics offer little by way of clues to their overall meanings as LaMontagne has suggested: “Some songs are like riddles, or puzzles, an unknown begging to be figured out,” only this may take some time. Whether ‘Supernova’ is the way forward for Ray LaMontagne only time will tell, as there will be those who lament this change of direction whereas others will undoubtedly welcome this fresh approach and openness to greater experimentation.