Album Review - A.h.a.b. - Self Titled

A.h.a.b. - Self Titled (White Wail WWR002)

Country inflected acoustics with a jaunty drive-time opener in "Wish You", which it must be said is probably more suited to an open top convertible on Route 66 than a Kia Ceed on the M40 near Newbury on a rainy afternoon, but I'll use my imagination. If their song writing has been compared to that of Ryan Adams, I would argue that Callum Adamson and Dave Burns' delivery is more along the lines of Ryan's namesake with the added B; with those all too familiar post-Springsteen gruff rock vocal affectations. For those not entirely convinced about Mr Adams' (with a B) place in the grand scheme of things, don't be alarmed, I mean this in a good and positive way.

I am however a little bewildered as to why the first two songs share the exact same backing track, forcing me to wonder whether "No No Babe" is really the coda to "Wish You" or an ill-placed second track in the running order. Callum and Dave just might like that groove and decided to milk it. No matter, third track in and we have something completely different in rhythm, style, key and mood. The surprise inclusion of Kurt Cobain's brooding "Breed" is probably how it would have sounded had Nirvana performed it during their 'Unplugged in New York' session, but in this case, probably better. The stark lyrics always begged to be performed and sung in this manner, despite the grunge band's followers insistence on noise.

The soothers on this album such as "Oceans" and "Crows" have an honest credibility and you do tend to want to flick the button onto repeat mode, but it's in songs like the appealing "Avenues" where A.h.a.b. succeed best; short, snappy and to the point. With such an agreeable groove, one wonders why they decided to cut this one so short, most would stretch it out ad nausium. "Oklahoma Girl", with its 'Harvest Moon' period Neil Young influence is probably best suited for A.h.a.b. and I imagine will be one of the songs that will ultimately be responsible for their pending success.

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	a.h.a.b. a.h.a.b. White Wail Records 2008-08-11 £17.99