From western swing to rockin' country they swing all the way from the South Pacific.

12 MP3 Songs
COUNTRY: Modern Country, COUNTRY: Western Swing



Details:
New Cattlestops album âBack To Rosetta Rdâ May 2007

Kapiti-based country band the Cattlestops announce the release of their new albumâ Back To Rosetta Rdâ, a follow-up to 2006âs âCattlestoppinââ which one critic described as âone of the best 10 NZ country albums ever.â âBack To Rosetta Rdâ contains 12 new original songs written by bass player James Cameron and guitarist Andrew London.

âIt wasnât until weâd pretty much finished it that we noticed that most of the songsâ themes centre around travelling away from, or returning homeâ says drummer Evan Williams. Maybe thatâs what should be expected from a Kapiti Coast-based band that travels continuously up and down State Highway One to and from gigs in Wellington and further North. Cameronâs evocative title track âBack To Rosetta Rdâ is a direct reference to his Raumati home â a central point on the Coast where the band frequently gathers to rehearse â with a wry dig at the transport authorities who prevaricate over finding a solution to the frequent delays. Raumati features again in guitarist Andrew Londonâs âRaumati Ragâ instrumental â and proof that State Highway One looms large in both songwritersâ consciousnessâ is apparent in Londonâs rocky âCountry Sedanâ.

The bandâs diverse influences become apparent in violinist Colleenâ Trenwithâs contributions to the Celtic-tinged âEmily Bayâ (a fictional account of a Norfolk Island Convict) and the bluegrass-flavoured âI Donât Recognise This Neighbourhoodâ which decries the homogenisation of small town New Zealand by the large retail chain stores.

Cameronâs experience in the jazz idiom gets full reign in âIt Just Happensâ¦.â, a touching tribute to Green Party politician Rod Donald; and the infectious âDamn That Cattlestop!â which allows the band a momentary return to their favoured Western Swing roots.

Drummer Evan âDonny Ruckusâ Williams is equally at home swishing brushes or flailing sticks â even applying an Irish-sounding Bodhran effect to âEmily Bayâ which hauntingly evokes the colonial period.

Lead guitarist Dave âDogsâ Berry is everywhere, lending infectious riffs and spine-tingling solos to "Country Sedan"â, "Someone Been Pickinâ on Me Bluesâ, and especially the funky âCanât Buy a Piece of My Loveâ. Dogsâ reputation as Wellingtonâs âKing of Toneâ is done no harm on this album â these sounds will conjure up flashbacks to the time when the electric guitar ruled unchallenged.


The Cattlestops have been playing all over the lower North Island since forming in 2004, have appeared on national television and radio shows and are booked for gigs in the South Island and Norfolk Island in 2007.