The Travelling Band - The Big Defreeze (2014) Lossless

Manchester’s finest folkrock superhumans, The Travelling Band, have won hearts and minds wherever they’ve found themselves, combining the strut of refried Southern country with the One Foot On The Monitor mayhem of the EStreet Band. With smatterings of McCartney (the beard years) and Crosby Still & Nash millionpart harmonies, TTB have become firm favourites for people with ears and good hearts. Fans include 6 Music’s Marc Riley (who loves their “shimmering blend of cosmiccountrypop”) and Michael Eavis (who was taken back to his “musical roots” with “marvellous music to savour”), who have lapped up the band’s headynufolk. On the back of LPs like 2008’s ‘Under the Pavement’ and 2011’s ‘Screaming is Something’, it isn’t at all surprising. Whether they’re burrowing away in a recording den on the Isle of Mull, packing out rapturous shows, or kicking off impromptu jam sessions in the middle of a field, The Travelling Band aren’t messing around – music is what makes their blood move. Now, readying their latest offering, ‘The Big Defreeze’ – produced by Iestyn Polson (Patti Smith, David Bowie and more) at the world famous Church Studios in Crouch End, TTB find themselves with their paws firmly on their roots, but growing upwards and outwards too. Never ones to sit still, 2014 could well be the year that sees The Travelling Band really cement their place as the true champions of blissful cosmicpop. Great on record and outstanding onstage, if you haven’t got down with The Travelling Band yet, now is the time, before they disappear on to much larger stages. Fans of Calexico, Iron & Wine, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Frightened Rabbit and Elbow should apply here, for The Travelling Band are the kings of North Country & Western music.