[rating=4]
Ahab, the four-piece band that started as duo Dave Burn and Callum Adamson, have been hard at work. Seebs Llewellyn and Luke Price have arrived to double the manpower and the band are successfully building a solid reputation, a growing fan base and, most importantly, a highly polished alt-country sound. Enthusiastically recommended by Bob Harris following their Cropredy 2011 appearance, about to support Bellowhead on their rapidly selling out tour, and now an EP, kmvt, produced by none other than the estimable John Leckie – ahab’s star is very much on the rise.
kmvt offers five lively and appealing songs. The jaunty opening, Wish You, unavoidably invokes thoughts of Crosby, Stills & Nash with its light vocal and trebly strings. Lightnin’ Bug sustains the upbeat West-Coast feel along with the introduction of folk/gospel vocals. The mood softens, although the pace never slackens, with the gentle coming of age ballad Dockers Hands.
Call A Waiter introduces a deeper country-rock element that prevents the things from floating adrift in a sea of treble vocals and guitar. Where’s The One You Love? closes the EP with more of the fine four-part harmonies and light strings that are the signature sound of kmvt.
The sound is crisp and tight, the harmonies are a flawless vocal delight and the song-writing has produced material that’s accomplished and appealling. This release heralds the approach of a debut album in 2012 that will be eagerly anticipated in many quarters. ahab (despite their apparent abhorrence of upper case) should have no shortage of new devotees after their appearances over the next two months. Catch them if you can.
Tracks
kmvt is released on Navigator Records (3 Oct 2011)
