State of The Union, Boo Hewerdine & Brooks Williams - Paper Tigers (2024) Hi-Res

Paper Tigers is the fourth album from State Of The Union (Boo Hewerdine and Brooks Williams). With well-established solo careers to pursue and with them living at opposite ends of the country the album was written in fits and starts whenever they could meet up. Working with Mark Freegard again they went back to the Glasgow studio where they recorded their first two albums and, in a day and half of live performance, the record was done.

There were no backing artists employed, no overdubs. It is an album of two folkies coming together, the voices working perfectly together in harmony, accompanied simply, but always stylishly, and with no little intricacy, by their own acoustic guitars. Together they are stalwarts of those smaller and intimate venues so beloved by many of our cherished Americana artists and the songs on the new album undoubtedly lend themselves to that kind of venue. There is a tour to look out for in 2025 starting in Montrose on 11th February and finishing at the great Railway Inn, Winchester on 1st March.

There is a playful quality to much of their joint work. ‘St-Louis-Du-Ha! Ha!’ is, believe it or not, a real place in Canada, the only place name with two exclamation marks. Despite never setting foot in the place, they have imagined a mini nirvana where the residents have fixed grins, crime is absent, and frowning will see visitors run out of town. That there is a jaunty, almost old-time feel to the track is no accident. Over the course of their 13 years of playing together both instinctively know when a song is going to fit the style of State Of The Union rather than their solo work. It is as if they save their mischievous leanings for the project and songs such ‘That’s All Folks’ which, alas, is not a nod to Bugs Bunny cartoons of yore but, instead, a plea for a dumped partner to get the hint. “In those early heady days, I thought you were the one, Now you are the one I want to lose, Call me fickle, call me cold, just don’t call me again….. That’s all folks, that’s all you get, Goodnight Vienna and with regret, That’s all folks, there’s nothing else to see, I’m over you, you’ll get over me.”

Amongst the, at times, acerbic and witty lyrics the album has it roots firmly in folk. Two talented and highly respected artists coming together to produce a record of quiet, pared-back songs. It is an undemanding listen that impresses in its own way without ever really leaving a lasting impression.