Album Review: Ghost Towns of the Midwest - Field Recordings Of...

A myriad of disingenuous old western clichés (whiskey rivers, wheezy men, sin confession) are thrown together to inform an ultimately forgettable country release. Though pleasantly lo-fi in production, and strings/harmonica instrumentation, the Melbourne locals' pastiche-revelling take on the Deep South borders on silly. For instance in Judas, the line, “Time and time again I'm told of some new passing trend/And by the time I buy the hat it's now a shoe,” renders frontman Cam Ewart less of a pensive folk troubadour than a bemoaning, confused Grandpa Simpson. They play Yarra Hotel, 15 June.