State of the Union

According to legend, State Of The Union’s eponymous debut album was recorded in a mere day-and-a-half (they were supposed to finish it in five). A rustic, Americana/folk mash-up, it’s a delightfully delicate release that shines thanks to the no-frills production and songwriting suss of US-born blues guitarist Brooks Williams and Boo Hewerdine, lead singer of English indie heroes The Bible. The wistful ’23 Skidoo’ and the rag-time swagger of ‘Distant Memory’ are undeniable highlights, but it’s the stripped back bluegrass-tinged reimagining of the Pet Shop Boys’ ‘Rent’ that will really get all the right tongues wagging. Quetly impressive.