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Single/Download Review

The Cornelius Crane
Oklahoma And Me EP Ruby Music

Article written by Kev W - Jun 3, 2014

There's been an influx of alt-country and Americana in the past decade or so, and it's got certain areas of the UK press and public dreaming that they grew up somewhere in the US mid-west on a diet of old Hank Williams records. More and more British bands (or it certainly seems this way) have adopted a similar musical style, or at least have become more prominent than before. This poses no problem whatsoever, especially when you have to double-check a band's location to determine whether they really are from Oklahoma or actually the north of England. The Cornelius Crane got the search engine working. There may be a slight British twang to the accents, but the music is universally Americana, and it's of a high enough grade to pull the wool over a few people's eyes.

There's not much about The Cornelius Crane that's particularly cutting edge (even their logo looks as though it was based on 'Ogden's Nut Gone Fake'), but that makes no difference. 'Oklahoma And Me' is a nicely chugging, country-influenced rock track that's in no hurry; there's a loose-limbed, relaxed groove that adds a chilled and spacious vibe which mingles well with the grittier guitar breaks. The mask is allowed to slip on 'Philistine Blues'. “Egg and chips for Thursday lunch” is hardly a bucket-load of barbecued buffalo wings in the Texas sunshine, and there's a whimsical quality that has its roots in British music as much as that from the other side of the Atlantic. Slower but more atmospheric with it, this doesn't present a dip in quality at all, instead it acts as a nice variation. Maybe the best is saved for last though, as 'Cage' heads across the pond again and takes in some west-coast harmonies, as well as the kind of guitar playing that evolved in that part of the world. There isn't really a barrier between US and UK guitar music, everything's been swapped, borrowed and absorbed, and these guys show us that's no bad thing.

Links:
http://www.thecorneliuscrane.co.uk/
https://rubymusic1.bandcamp.com/album/oklahoma-and-me-extended-play
https://www.facebook.com/rubymusic.ie