HARDRIVE - "Lightning"
The
Hardrive Bluegrass Band's fourth release - Lightning - is an extraordinary
album reflecting the band's ever increasing talent. Both instrumentals and
vocals shine on Lightning - the debut album for lead vocalist Chris Jacobs,
who joined Hardrive in 2004. The album features a capella gospel, hot instrumentals,
and some remarkable original songs from the band and friends.
Chris Jacob's vocal work with the band has added invaluably to the traditional bluegrass style. Hardrive now has a fresh new vocal sound which is superbly showcased by the a capella version of Goodnight, the Lord's Comin'.
Nick
Dear, the eternal songwriter in Hardrive, has written a number of instrumentals
including the title track Lightning, the Old Priory Breakdown, Tall
Poppy Cutdown and Yarra Junction Waltz. Nick also wrote songs
featuring vocals which include Springtime, and Lonely, Desperate,
Miserable and Sad.
Only a Few was written by a close friend of the band, Dave Mohan, and reflects a poignant and inspired mind.
The band has again drawn on their Australian origins for inspiration, with Old Priory Breakdown and Yarra Junction Waltz inspired by Australian music festivals featuring bluegrass and old-time music.
For further information, bookings or sales, please contact:
Nick Dear
Manager, Hardrive Bluegrass Band
Phone: 03 5368 6888
Mobile: 0421 593 998
dears@tpg.com.au
Review of "Lightning" from ABC Ballarat's Jarrod Watt:
Tuesday, 5 April 2005
'Australian bluegrass' is a music category that raises eyebrows long enough for one to establish there's respectably Australian relatives of blues, rock, hip-hop and other 'American' style musics - so why not outdo the Yanks at this one as well?
Hardrive (now known as the Hardrive Bluegrass Band) have that 'thing' that makes a band stand out in a crowd - they look good, they're something of a family affair and boy, can they play.
Whether it's singing beautiful harmonies or showcasing each other's talents in instrumentals it's nothing compared to when they kick into high gear - shredding the fretboards of their guitar, mandolin and banjo with the kind of energy that would be given high voltage, distortion and labelled 'speed metal' in other bands.
A mix of vocal and instrumental workouts, the HBB really pay attention to their rhythms and tempo, with old-time country waltzes, mid-pace strolls and energetic knees-ups evenly balanced throughout the album's length.
As
it is the music is arranged and played in a manner the architect of bluegrass
music, Bill Monroe, would be pleased by: double bass and fiddle fill out
the stringed instruments mentioned previously; frontman Chris Jacobs has
neatly slotted in as the new lead singer, with mandolin master Nick Dear
ably swinging in behind him for the two-part harmonies.
Song choices show a mix of original material written by the band and their associates with distinctly Australian references - "Yarra Junction Waltz" and "Tall Poppy Cutdown" are just two - with some nicely rearranged old classics, including a version of "Man of Constant Sorrow" that lounges back nicely on the beat and sounds just a little more relaxed than the version you may have heard on the O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack.
You could drive a long way with this album in your car's disc player - use it as a magical escape hatch when stuck in peak-hour, or take it on the open highway and see whereabouts you end up!