Bats. Not The Bats, This distinction is important to establish right from the off. The Bats were one of the original Flying Nun records roster which formed around the Dunedin, New Zealand music scene in the early Eighties. And a fine one at that. If you don't know their records, check them out.
Bats though is a different, but equally intriguing musical propostion. Jess Awh a wonderfully named, and wonderfully talented musician from Nashville, Tennessee, Her latest record Good Game Baby is a quite wonderful country tinged Indie record with a wonderful cover, which shows two animated yellow ping pong balls conferring on one side of a ping pong table's net.
The cover itself is interesting and encourages speculation as to its genesis and message. What are these ping pong balls talking about? Where are their opponents? The other side of the net is empty. A whole short story attempting to answer some of the wild speculation immediately arising from this animated image begins to gather in my poor, fevered and weary brain. I'll get back to Good Game Baby before I become too distracted.
It's a fab record. Pure and simple. Thanks again to First Mate Darren, my own doubles partner, (if he'll forgive me), in this blog endeavour. This one's simply brill Darren. Let me count the ways.
Jess's voice, not a million miles away from Ratboy's Julia Steiner. Immediately calming and beguiling. Another inaginary girlfriend for you. If you're after one. I can never get enough myself.
Number Two the songs. Indie, Country. A steel pedal to set the scene and then a steady hand on the tiller throughout, Well paced and effortlessly managed songs. Some of the best I've heard, or are likely to hear this year. Self epreciating humour. Heart. Soul.
Number three the mood. A less excitable and anxious American country cousin of Courtney Barnett. Good work Darren. Just what I was looking to hear without knowing it. RELEASE BATS! Apologies. But it had to be done.
Really glad you like this. She's great. I've been following her since the first album, which was pretty much a bedroom effort. Since then a band has cohered around her, and works really well. This album seems to have moved to her living room for recording.... Think she might have done the artwork, too! She certainly did for the last album and the style looks very similar.
ReplyDeleteI think it's excellent, Many thanks.
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