Pharis & Jason Romero
Album: Long Gone Out West Blues
Label: Lula
Tracks: 13
Website: http://www.pharisandjason.com

2012 was a catalyst year for Pharis & Jason Romero, their previous cut, "The Passing Glimpse" won the Canadian duo a clutch of awards and a top fifty appearance in the influential Roots Music Report, which focuses entirely on the number of plays a CD gets on Radio Stations across America.

"Long Gone Out West Blues" is an album that shows this husband and wife team have got absolutely no intention of resting on their laurels. It's an album that draws on the history of American folk traditions with some of the songs being learnt from old radio recordings, whilst another, "Waiting For The Evening Mail" came via a Riley Puckett 78.

Of course it wouldn't be a Pharis & Jason Romero album without them stamping their own songs right across the release, adding to the tradition, the ballad, "I Want To Be Lucky" being a real heart plucker. Talking about plucking the band also make their own instruments, with Jason doing a great little line in banjos.

Both of the couple are highly accomplished singers and the album comes across very much as ego free, by which I mean, both seem content to be in the spotlight, both seem content to play the support vocal role. Their voices work superbly, solo, counterpoint, harmony, take your choice.

"Long Gone Out West Blues" is an album that engages you throughout, I don't think there was a moment where I felt my attention drifting, the sheer beauty of voice and instrumentation, with their very simple, but incredibly strong structures just take a hold of you and keep you. The only downside, it looks like it's going to be 2014 before we get to see them in the flesh.

Neil King