Dustin Bentall & The Smokes
Album: Orion
Label: Aporia
Tracks: 6
Website: http://www.dustinbentall.com

Hailing from Vancouver, Dustin Bentall, a mainstay of Canada's roots scene, has joined forces with Kendel Carson and the band The Smokes to produce a well-crafted EP that takes the heart of tried-and-tested role-models like Neil Young, The Band, Dylan, the Burritos and Wilco and makes it his own.

The "narcotic cowboy" tag with which Dustin's been blessed can be heard to be most appropriate on the late-60s "Cosmic American" sound of You Are An Island, while The Ballad Of Billy Cowsell and Emmy-Lou lie heavy with namechecking nostalgia and Souvenirs rocks away into the country landscape. What sets Dustin's collaborations with Kendel apart from the roots pack is his obvious reverence for the tales of everyday life and loss, which informs his delivery through a direct and honest expression of his sensibilities - if just occasionally it may seem a touch too high on knowing emphasis.

Dustin's support crew (which comprises Del Cowsill, Adam Dobres and Rich Knox alongside the trusty Kendel) play with vigour and commitment, and Orion can be earmarked a more than promising outing for his latest venture.

David Kidman