Picture the scene. It’s the 1970s, we’re in California and there are two childhood friends kicking back in their room, dreaming of stardom and getting stoned to Neil Young.
Alberta Cross’ debut “The Thief and the Heartbreaker” is what the music these friends make sounds like.
Then you realize that its actually 2007, and a Swede and Englishman who met by chance in a Shoreditch dive are hijacking a time and place they didn’t exist in. No awards for originality here but if this had been made in the 1970’s it would’ve been one of the albums that today’s artists would’ve sited as an influence.
Opening and title track, “The Thief and the Heartbreaker” set the tone with its bluesy bass, easy drumming and jangling guitar. Vocalist Peter Stakee’s heartbreak from his hotel is hauntingly clear. Second track, “Lucy Rider’s” guitar rift sounds like a hillbilly Noel Gallagher; no bad thing. Other highlights include “Low Man” which ambles along beautifully with Peter Stakee’s pleading vocals exhausting themselves over gentle, tribal-like drums and the perfect choice for a single, “Hard Breaks” is a country tune you cant help but sing along too.
Stakee’s nasally vocals may, initially, grate on some peoples ears. I’m inclined to say these people are tone deaf. He voice possesses a beautiful longing and when he pushes it he reveals he can hit notes befitting of the Buckleys.
The pedantic among you may question its authenticity. Though when music is made this good and this lovingly, who the hell cares where the people creating it are from? The diverse backgrounds of its creators prove that music can transcend trivial things such as decades and large bodies of ocean.
This LP is one of the best I’ve heard so far in 2007. It’s as far from being British as you could get, but for just under half an hour, you’re transported to a golden era of American music. And it makes you smile and it makes you dance. And isn’t that what music is supposed to do?
