Author: Pete Sargeant

Nikka Costa – Nikka & Strings, Underneath and In Between

Long this writer’s favourite r&b singer, Nikka Costa’s recording are often played hereabouts. Her work with Prince is well-known and her duet on an early Van Hunt recording ( Mean Sleep) remains an example of stellar collaboration. So on this occasion she has completed a crowd-funding venture to create a collection of – mostly – versions of songs by others. And in the company of a set of string players.

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Two Ways Home

Two Ways Home are an Alt-Country duo made up of Isabella Mariee and Lewis Fowler. Having recently released their brand new EP ‘Closet Stranger’, the pair sat down with Pete for one of his special customised question sets. Here are the responses:

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Jen Gloeckner – Vine

Iowa act Jen Gloeckner has some pretty interesting collaborators on this new record. The promo notes suggest similarities in style with Lana Del Ray, Mazzy Star, Cocteau Twins, P J Harvey. But I played it anyway….

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Hank Marvin – Without A Word

The master of the twanging electric guitar returns. We were all set to meet the man and talk guitars, this record and everything else, but his trip over from Australia for promo was cancelled, as we understand it for family reasons.

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Debbie Bond – Winds Of Change (Single)

With a career that embraces performing alongside Eddie Kirkland, Willie Smith and Johnny Shines, Bond heads to Tuscaloosa to record a song that winds up at Muscle Shoals for mixing and mastering. She sings, plays guitar, writes material and her multi-instrumental musical partner ‘Radiator’ Rick Asherson – warms the room wherever he goes – who grew up in England assists in creating this number.

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