Labels: Fika Recordings – WIAIWYA
Review by: MH
This is Bill Botting of Allo Darlin playing some countrified folky indie stuff. There are friends along for the ride including members of Allo Darlin, Owl & Mouse, The Wave Pictures and more so it’s a full band record. It’s a good record too with a personal feel and a weathered slant to the lyrics. The melancholy and wistful opening two songs “Better Friend” and “Burning Bridges” make for a great start whilst “Know You When” is now the second song I’ve heard in the last few years that references Megabus trips – the other one being “Present, Tense” by Martha where someone’s lucky purple lighter gets lost on the Megabus to Brighton. I could possibly name some more Megabus related songs if I thought about it a bit harder but my memory fails me for now. You could also dance to a few of the songs on here which are a little more upbeat and there’s a cover of Paul Simon’s “Graceland” along the way too – my Dad played that LP a lot when we were kids so I welcome this new version. It turns out that this is the last effort from Bill and the band as Bill is returning to his homeland, Australia, shortly. I’ve enjoyed this – I might even go and see him if he makes it to Brisbane.