Dan O’Farrell & the Difference Engine – former Accrington Stanley frontman Dan now fronts this marvellous alt-folk/country/indie combo from Southampton who have just released their fourth album – ‘The Fish That Learned To Drown’ on Gare Du Nord Records, which has had some glowing reviews and is picking up some BBC 6music radio spins. Oh, and Well, All Right!… a certain well known consumer rights TV presenter also performs in this band. Pedal steel guitar is always a joy to see/hear, and is just one of the tools of their trade…it’s not Esther Rantzen by the way.
Lovely Lightning – all the players in this superb new combo have A1 pedigrees and master their instruments with perfection, so their coming together is a truly beautiful thing, Lovely Lightning indeed. There’s something of the late sixties into early seventies counter cultural grooviness here. On the one hand the jazz folk psych crossover of Pentangle, Mellow Candle, The Fairports…but then again the beefy hit of a Doors or even Deep Purple. Splendid work.