ROSCOE JAMES IRWIN – THE HUNTING ROAD
The modern trend of folk, country or “roots” music on the surface alone is a little baffling. One can only surmise that it is a direct response of the alternative music scene running as far as it can in the other direction of ultra produced “non-instrument” digital sound that is clogging up the charts. So is this why Melbournian Roscoe James Irwin’s debut album brings out banjos, mandolins and the like? You know what? It doesn’t matter. It wouldn’t matter what sound or genre Roscoe wrote and recorded in because his clear talent would be able transcend a style’s boundaries. There is not one dud track out of the ten on The Hunting Road. Being able to shift tone, feel and tempo from track to track (often within a track too) without losing intensity is a gift and pleasure to listen to. The vocal harmonies are sweet yet strong. Not sure if directly or indirectly I think Roscoe has been influenced by the late Beatles. Most of it is pretty subtle but the end of track five Georgina is more than little like Hey Jude. Nonetheless that song will be a favourite and this album is an absolute corker.
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