Discovered Vagaband via R2 Magazine and a loyal customer of Fish Records requesting a copy and pleased to say we can now feature their debut album Town & Country.
Norwich based 8-piece band The Vagaband have been making a name for themselves on the UK festival circuit from Glastonbury to Bestival. Capturing their vivacious live performance in a studio was a challenging prospect but their exceptional debut album ‘Town & Country‘, released this month through their own label ‘Eggsong Recordings’, is a worthy testament to a hugely talented band, a veritable smorgasbord feast.
Combining a rich concoction of americana, swing, ragtime, blues and rock they create a unique sound which has great breadth but an overall British feel. The interplay and arrangements are slick, tight and infectious. The songwriting of Jose McGill matches the musical heights of the band making this a well rounded serving. Thanks to their early streetband years they know what moves an audience and they have bottled that and served it up in super strength on Town & Country.
The album is anything but predictable from the jazzy opener ‘Lend Me Your Ears‘ they follow-up with a heady mix of americana on ‘An Ocean‘ with its lush pedal steel and resonator slide. No trademark sound to this band, every track is fresh and unexpected. ‘The Bad & The Ugly‘ takes a page from Morricone with a Mexican Mariachi crossed spaghetti western theme on which Jose is joined by the lovely vocals of Lauren Dove. Whether they’re laying down a whiskey drinking alt-country number (Send in the Cavalry) or re-inventing Tennessee Ernie Ford on their cover of ‘Sixteen Tons‘ they bring great originality and an overall sense of playful fun.
Folk Radio UK
