Following the success of their acclaimed debut, Traveling Mercies (For Troubled Paths), the wandering lo-fi country sound of Horse Stories returns with the help of another fresh batch of gloriously restrained atmos on One Hundred Waves. Ex-pat Toby Burke's whimsical crooning consummately rides the acoustic guitars, pedal steel and harmonica to transport listeners to rural bliss, evoking the spirit of country via the urban sprawl. With new talent opting for the acoustic sounds rather than distortion, country music is set to change and it can't be said that destroying the traditional sounds is the aim of this new generation. You only need to hear the opening track, Push My Buttons, to know that Horse Stories have no intention of bending the genre out of shape. There appears to be a real love for country sounds. The talented 3-piece flirt with the intensity of post-rock while preserving their rural roots, similar to Melbourne acts like Disaster Plan and The Rectifiers. North And South emerges as a standout with its sad sense of longing and delicate dynamics. It's great to hear country music being celebrated with a fresh approach and Horse Stories are one of the few acts on the globe that successfully transmit the feeling of wide open spaces while injecting the innovation of urban minds.

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Tracklisting

Full listing of HORSE STORIES releases