Reviewed by Paul Loader

I love this album, I really do and I can't put it down. As it was created by Electrics frontman and prolific songwriter, producer and festival favourite Sammy Horner, I was expecting something along the lines of a Celtic reel, The Pogues with a message. Instead what I got was a stripped down acoustic gem recorded in Sidney and produced by British-born Alex Legg. The album feels that Sammy has been listening to the radio a lot on an extremely long tour and had written 'Acoustic From Australia' based on the music he had soaked up. There are touches of Neil Diamond in there, especially with the opening track "Wilderness". Johnny Cash gets a look in with the phenomenal "Country Club", which to me elicits the same kind of feeling that I had when I first heard Cash's rendition of 'Hurt'. Bruce Springsteen certainly gets a nod with "Cold Wind" and "Sinnerman" just got me. Poignant and angry it seems to have a real dig at the pious judgemental attitude that some Christians appear to have towards the world. I puzzled for a long while on the meaning behind the wonderful "1759". At first it appeared to be a love song, if at least a weird one, with the line "You're the best thing that happened to me since 1759", completely losing me I sought YouTube for an answer. In a totally appropriate salute to his Irish roots Sammy is singing about Guinness, I think. Fair play I say. There is not a weak track on this album and I heartily recommend it to anybody who loves their music stripped right down to basics and presented to them with heart, passion and sometimes humour. I give this set full marks and Sammy Horner has just added another fan to the growing enclave who adore his music.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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