The Mining Co. – Frontier
Self Released – 27 September 2019
Panning for nuggets of gold, Michael Gallagher helms The Mining Co. on his third long-player, Frontier. Recorded in Andalucía, Spain like his previous two releases, Gallagher opens a seam and explores the nature of love in these uncertain times. Produced and mixed by Paco Loco, Jesus Cabral Herrera on bass, drummer Karlos Arancegui, and pedal steel player Greg Holme form the core band, while Cristina Gestido added the strings.
“I’ll keep on while she’s goin’ to Mexico alone.” Gallagher’s mournfully sings on Mexico, coming face to face with the reality of a relationship that seems to be slipping away. Initially played on just an acoustic guitar, the addition of keys, bass and drums gives the song a forward motion, yet there’s no escaping the essential sadness of the track.
There’s something almost classical about the first notes of Lost, before they get swallowed up in a bed of ominous keyboard. Confusion is the one constant to the song as Gallagher lays out the quandary, “Don’t know when your charity ends, who’s your enemy or who’s your friend.”
Gambling isn’t always easy, but when there’s nothing left to lose what choice do you have. Take Your Chances suggests that in such a situation you don’t really have any other choice, “It all looks the same up here from every point of view without you there’s nothing for me but an ocean of grief.”
The thrill of the ride isn’t on display in Rollercoaster Kisses, instead, there is just despair. Anchored by Gallagher’s acoustic guitar, the band comes in with an air of inevitability, “Here I am in this haunted house, it’s easy to be scared to death than her sweet kisses missing me for another man instead.”
Love always comes at a cost and the question is whether the price is worth it. River of Fire examines just how expensive the proposition really is. “She comes in to me on a river of fire to take my hand everything’s brighter” As the song continues the accounting begins with a fiery electric guitar tallying the account.
Separating the detritus from the gold takes a steady hand and a heart dedicated to the task. The Mining Company and Michael Gallagher prove to be equal to the task on Frontier. His Andalusian odysseys have proven fruitful yet again.