To say with any certainty just exactly what is meant by a lot of the music. Unless you happen to be a confidante of Hackett, it's virtually impossible Never be 'album of the week' on Radio 2 but it shows that inventiveness,Īdventure and daring are still alive and well. So thank God for people like ex-Genesis man Steve Hackett, Wild Orchids may It's a bit like saying that having a Simpsons poster on your wall is cooler It's fashionable to dismiss 'prog rock' as outdated, pretentious and 'arty',
It's so good that the Hackensaw Boys love what they do - and so will you I'm sure. This is a very satisfying album that proved even better than I'd allowed for and made me want to trail back to the Boys' previous releases. Backings are sparse yet luxurious, unexpectedly delicate for the most part, and with some cool vocal harmonies that stretch right back in time to their mentors. The Hackensaws also do a really neat line in road-movie introspection ( Alabama Shamrock, High Faller), and if anything this quieter side is more prevalent on Love What You Do than the iconoclastic thrash side. But then there's All Good Dogs, whose wistfulness is more reminiscent of Peter Rowan or Earth Opera. A cursory or first listen reveals these boys to have absorbed a wider slew of influences even than the Carters and the Ramones in putting together their heady mix of oldtime-with-attitude the opener is a charming and atmospheric number, Sun's Work Undone, replete with well-judged instrumental touches (banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar and echoey ol' fiddle out there in the backwoods), whereas the second track ( Cannonball) is a complete contrast, more like Hayseed Dixie, a breakneck dash that makes the ensuing We Are Many seem like mere granny-punk! Mecklenburg County is pure mountain breakdown, whereas Kiss You Down There is a naughty little strut down honky-tonk rockabilly lane and Parking Lot Song is a fun jugband-bluesy throwaway. At that time they were an unwieldy 12-piece that barely crammed into a coach, but two further albums along the road they've since slimmed down to a more tourable six-man unit (comprising the enigmatically named Salvage, Shiner, Mahlon and The Kooky-eyed Fox together with either Pee Paw and Dante J, or Four and Baby J., depending on whether you believe the liner note or the press handout - confused: you betcha!). Growing up in the Blue Ridge city of Charlottesville, the Boys've been plying their driving blend of old-time bluegrass since 1999, releasing their first (distinctly home-made) disc in 2000. Sure, there's both a high-octane energy and a genuine old-time feel to the Hackensaw Boys' music, but that's where the comparison ends I suspect. The press-quote byline "think of the Ramones mixed with the Carter Family" may be suitably eye-catching, but it ain't the deal as far I'm concerned. Hackensaw Boys - Love What You Do (EMI/Nettwerk) Kate Howden, Paul Jones & Tony Taffinder.Brendan Hendry, Brendan Mulholland & Paul McSherry.Hammy Hamilton, Séamus Creagh, Con Ó Drisceoil.
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