Willard Grant Conspiracy
Flying Low
Rykodisc 1998

A country Tindersticks, would be one way of describing this, but without the mild ridiculousness of Tindersticks. Mournful little sketches to an uncluttered country backing, with a trace of indie roughness here and there. The sound of it is sad, too, and I get the impression the two blokes who make up the band aren’t cheery souls. I think I read they’re both ex-alcoholics.

Respect to them for writing songs set in their own place and time, with no country fakery. My favourites are ‘House is not a Home’, about burning down a house full of bad childhood memories, and ‘No Such Thing as Clean’, about the dependency of a relationship.

It took time to grow on me, but it’s pretty good. Their following one, Everything’s Fine, has a more filled out sound and smoother production, but I actually prefer this.