The two important British monthly music magazines, Mojo and Uncut have been giving a lot of space recently to Hurray for the Riff Raff and their, (or possibly her, as they're very much driven by Bronx-raised Puerto Rican Alynda Lee) new album The Navigator. The band though are based in New Orleans and this very much makes sense once you give them a listen.
Now it's finally out and I'm listening through to it, it's obvious that it's entirely deserving of the hype. Here are just three songs from it, two live versions, one recorded. It's a triumph! A very, American sounding record, soaked in that country's traditions, roots and blood. A polemic against the tide of history absolutely brimful with gutsy, angry, soulful songs.
Not dissimilar in perspective to Rhiannon Giddens' Freedom's Highway which I posted about on here a week or so back, The Navigator is steeped in tradition and ire and manages to be fiercely political without falling in to the trap of becoming worthy. An altogether excellent and timely album!
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