Maurice Hope – April 17, 2016 at 02:44PM
Tags:_AMERICANA
Boy, oh boy this is good (and country too!) Oklahoma’s Carter Sampson before this record (her fifth album) was completely unknown to me, but ever since the first time I heard her I have hungered for more. Who and what era, area her music hails is a mixture. The greatest affinity is a mixture as the likes of Kelly Willis and vibrancy of Kacey Musgraves come to mind only there is greater depth, body and soul to her vocals as the lady sings about her wilder side and very much what you would expect to come out of Austin, Tx.
Bolstered by a set of players tuned-in to her thinking, Travis Linville (guitars, dobro, pedal steel, bass, drums, percussion, banjo and backing vocals), Gabriel Mor (electric guitar), Joe Mack (acoustic guitar), Ryan Jones (organ, piano) plus backing vocals from John Moreland and Ali Carter aid Sampson’s vocals.
From the first note I knew, instantly, that here was a voice (and music) I would soon become addicted to. Quicker than even it takes for a thirsty man after a hot day out in the sun to pop a cap off a beer bottle. It is through the likes of Sampson people like me become reinvigorated after hearing one too many, so-called hot new or otherwise artist who haven’t or ever will that bit of magic. Sampson on the other hand has it all. She’s the real deal, and with luck is going to become better known both sides of the pond. As good a song to convince you is “Run Away” as she speaks of her dreams, going to Paris, France and half-way round the world as she becomes tired of ‘this old life’ and ‘maybe someday she could run away’. Plied in telling Dobro the song speaks adventure and joy of living from someone who in her own words ‘I feel Like I am right where I am supposed to be doing what I am supposed to be doing’. On changing the tempo headed by more Dobro, neat guitar, and Carter’s harmony vocals her sound becomes sweet and melancholy on “Medicine River” which feels as good as warm spring sunshine after the bitter cold of winter.
“Take Me Home With You” is a slow one, arguably the slowest ballad of the record, but still okay. Only I prefer her best when the music and her singing shows greater freedom. As on “Wilder Side”, “Highway Rider” and “Tomorrow Light” as she sings about how the highway is the only divide (Jones’ organ coupled with a chugging melody make it a winner), and with some more tasty steel she sings off impressively with “See The Devil Run” as she urges people to gather round to see the great happening. New Queen Of Oklahoma notes the liner notes..!! I believe her kingdom is soon about to expand.
Maurice Hope
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