“Imagine the pure, raw power of whatever it is that makes Wilco amazing, taken back to its roots via some smoky pub in the Scottish highlands and even the odd thunderstorm, and you have the charming world of Karl Broadie. (His debut release) sees an intrinsically American sound (think banjos, brushed drums, incessant fiddling) matched with a supreme confidence. Broadie has every right to be confident too – tracks like ‘Ride Out Alone’ and the tear jerking ‘Paperback Book’ could quite easily have come from the Mermaid Avenue album. Even the Beatles vibe of ‘A Few More Lines’ keeps the ante up. Broadie’s sound betrays the fact that he’s lived and loved, but more importantly, it makes clear that he’s learnt too.” – Record Collector (UK) |