A full four years after his last long player (2006’s ‘Join Dan Sartain’) the Alabama-born twenty-eight year old multi-instrumentalist re-emerges with his third commercially available studio album. The missing link between Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley, Sartain’s brand of lo-fi rock’n’roll is very much in tact and while there’s very little in the way of surprises here, his authentic take on rock’n’roll is still a refreshing breath of fresh air rather than an exercise in retro.

Recorded in the pantheon of original analogue records that is Toerage Studios with Liam Watson, the album’s 13 songs rattle by in little over 30 minutes. The urgency of opener 'Those Thoughts' gives way to the rock’n’roll stomp of 'Doin’ Anything I Say'. Occasionally things get a little too obvious as on the album’s only two mediocre moments, 'Bohemian Grove' and 'Voo Doo'. On the whole though the song-smithery is as sharp as Sartain’s pencil moustache.

'Praying for a Miracle' is Iggy Pop’s 'The Passenger' slowed down and given a full rock’n’roll make-over. The album’s high point has to be the fourth part of the trilogy 'Walk amongst the Cobras' while the most beautiful moment lyrically comes on the gorgeous 'Ruby Carol' (“You’ve got me swinging on a star/Catching moonbeams in a jar”) with its slapping double bass and twangy guitar. Dan Sartain gets a bit of help vocally on the organ-driven 'Watcha Gonna Do?' from ex-Headcoatee Holly Golightly, before the final strains of 'Touch Me' round off a truly enchanting album.


Track Listing