HEATH CULLEN AND THE 45 – A STORM WAS COMING BUT I DIDN’T FEEL NOTHING

This album has a very apt title – and that’s not to say that one’s expectations are not lived up to, more that the songs on Heath Cullen’s latest album have a storm brewing underneath, but the emotional effects are never over-explored. It’s a good, straight-up-and-down alternative country record, not devoid of its direct country song references, broken hearts, lots of imagery of water and drowning. The band Cullen has assembled do his songs terrific justice – particularly the hauntingly spare Woke With The Birds and the very Gold-era Ryan Adams Break My Heart. He’s not bad with a heart-breaker actually, Kathleen is a snowy and wistful traveller, pitter-patter piano and subtly shimmering guitars dictating Cullen’s lonesome journey. Perhaps the weary weepers are Cullen’s strength – a moment of whimsy with Kitchen Song doesn’t seem to sit right among the more heart-on-sleeve numbers. But the sound of everything is fantastic – a tapey saturation compliments the band’s performance and Cullen’s spoony, Fred Neil-esq baritone. There’s not that much to pick at here – if you’ve got the patience for some rather Americanized alternative balladeering, Cullen’s your man.

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