Hey Negrita – The Buzz Above (Fat Fox).

Fresh from an appearance at SXSW in March, Hey Negrita release their second album, The Buzz Above, to follow their critically acclaimed 2005 debut, We Are Catfish. They open with the melodic Americana of Can’t Walk Away before going on to All About Me which is contemporary country with Johnny Cash overtones. This is quite appropriate as they are emulating Cash by conducting a tour of UK prisons in October 2006. They continue in the contemporary country vein with Penny Drops and Al Stewart immediately comes to mind on the classy folk/rock of Abandon Ship. Coming Down is a middle of the road country song but lacks edge but the required bite is supplied on Good Times, a Celtic influenced folk rocker.

There’s not a lot to shout about on Charlene but the understated The Message is one of the album’s highlights. Back into the Americana style for Hold Tight and Nine To Five with the latter being the better of the two. This up-tempo offering, with a welcome harmonica included, has a sing-along chorus that would go down well in any barroom. Lust And Bones carries on their talent for writing great choruses and although this has the ability to be an ‘indie’ song, it’s just trying a little too hard. The final track sums up Hey Negrita. Sunlight Hits Your Eyes is where British folk meets contemporary American country. If you like either then you are unlikely to be disappointed.

http://www.fatfox.co.uk/
http://www.heynegrita.com/

Copyright David Blue 2006.