Back in 2009, Yorkshire's Rob Cowen & The Dissidents appeared out of nowhere with a delightful Springsteen-esque tune that we promptly made Track Of The Day. Since then they've racked up a fair bit of kudos, including a four-star review in Q Magazine, and are now back with a brand spanking new EP.
The Heartlands EP was recorded - and this is straight from the source, people - in a haunted cottage in rural Kent. Random opening doors and everything. The band reportedly huddled together in the same room, cooked their meals over a fire, chopped wood and, er, pretended to be from the BBC in order to persuade a local church to lend them their pipe organ.
The Heartlands then, should theoretically have so much resin seeping out between its layers that by the time you hit shuffle you'll be thinking about extracting some mosquito DNA to create a T.Rex. But I di(no)gress.
Thankfully avoiding the worst clichés of modern folk, The Heartlands' title track is a fairly simple, but irrevocably effective, example of more being more. Centred around a three-chord verse, it kicks off with a vengeance, with Cowen's fleeting lyrics offering a rather unfavourable view of urban life. Pounding drums and none-more-folky harmonies are omnipresent, while a subtle army of instruments are incorporated one by one during quiet bits/loud bits before it all escalates into a pummelling coda of 'we all need somebody to believe in/down in the heartlands'. Epic folk? Wave folk? Or just folk rock? You decide.
Where they previously were hovering close to New Jersey and stadium rock, it seems RC&TD have now taken a step towards the heart of new American folk, edging closer to the likes of Band Of Horses and Ryan Adams. They might have to endure a few comparisons to Scotland's Kassidy - although without the requisite Fleetwood Mac tag - but The Heartlands is the sound of an emerging talent combining the best of two worlds.
Bonus! Download an exclusive acoustic version of The Heartlands here.
Rob Cowen & The Dissidents on Facebook
Words: Brand Barstein
10:29 AM | 04/02/2011
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Fantastic. Just fantastic. Some brilliant song writers emerging from the UK again, and about time too.
Posted by John Clerkenwell at 11:04 AM | 04/02/2011 | Report Abuse
Loving this track - brilliant lyrics!
Posted by Peter at 12:03 PM | 04/02/2011 | Report Abuse
Absolute belter! How have I not heard of these guys before?!
Posted by Gavin at 3:08 PM | 04/02/2011 | Report Abuse
What a great track! I look forward to hearing more of you guys.
Posted by Gavin at 3:12 PM | 04/02/2011 | Report Abuse
Awesome! You guys are gunna be big! Such a great track and cant wait to hear more...
Posted by Chris Wilkinson at 12:17 AM | 05/02/2011 | Report Abuse
I LOVE THIS TRACK. Like John Mellencamp or Tom Petty at their best. Fine lyrics, finely sung.
Posted by Jerry Harrison at 1:35 AM | 05/02/2011 | Report Abuse
Absolutely terrific. Really good stuff. Certainly a jot top for 2011. I'll be watching them with interest. What a fantastic prospect.
Posted by Jim at 8:24 AM | 05/02/2011 | Report Abuse
Epic. Certainly a band to watch in 2011. A real belter.
Posted by Jim at 8:26 AM | 05/02/2011 | Report Abuse
I like this song very much. Norway is ready for RC&TDs.
Posted by Sorn at 8:24 PM | 06/02/2011 | Report Abuse
I like this song very much. Norway is ready for RC&TDs.
Posted by Sorn at 8:26 PM | 06/02/2011 | Report Abuse
Great track, terrific tune. J'adooooooore
Posted by Gracia Pedrosa at 12:47 PM | 08/02/2011 | Report Abuse
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