LP number 4 from Swampmeat Family Band bears the evocative title Polish Your Old Halo, borrowed from the lyrics of country legend Jerry Jeff Walker’s 1975 single Jaded Lover. No cover of that song here, but one that is much more remarkable: we hear The Chemical Brothers’ Setting Sun (with lyrics and vocals by Noel Gallagher) in an almost unrecognizable version (without the beats and the Oasis singer). The five-piece from Birmingham (UK) has a knack for choosing and performing covers (a highlight of their previous album Muck was their take on The Velvet Underground’s Foggy Notion), but their original songs, centered around themes of resilience, are just as captivating. The skilled band members play bluesy roots rock with a 70s feel, and with every new record they sound tighter and more polished, without losing appealing ideas, authenticity and energy. The standout tracks below are the best proof of this.
Polish Your Old Halo, produced by Mark Gittins, is out now digitally and on vinyl LP through PNKSLM Recordings.