Andy Golledge Namoi EP Review
Andy Golledge is an urban legend of Inner West Sydney, establishing himself through his country style and incredible live shows. Originally from Tamworth, his sound is a cross between Americana, roots country and Australian folk. After an almost decade long hiatus from releasing music, Golledge has tried to capture the chaos and electricity of his live performances and distil them into a single listening experience. The Namoi EP doesn’t quite capture lightning in a bottle, but it does present a heartfelt offering of smooth, easy-listening and genuine country music.
Everything that makes Andy Golledge a sensational musician is on display in the very first track, “Blue”. The instrumentation has all the best elements of classic Americana, with duelling acoustic guitars, electric guitars and banjos powered by a firm but dynamic drum kit as sweetly harmonising vocals are layered over the top. When all the instruments swell in the chorus, there is an anthem quality to the song that’s reminiscent of the energetic highs of soft rock, like the cathartic breakdown of an Eagles or even an Oasis track. There is a palpable roots country influence in Andy’s music, which “Blue” perfectly demonstrates. Golledge’s honky tonk voice is something cut straight from the Rocky Mountains, soaring high as he sings “blue” like a howling coyote, mourning the midnight moon.
While it is easy to dismiss country music because of the current oversaturated American market, there are many notable aspects of the Namoi EP that are grounded in the blues roots of 70s American country. Commercial country music today is often heavily produced, borrowing the texture of commercial pop and hip hop. However, Golledge gets to the roots of country music, with the EP produced clean and tight to emphasis the realness of his band. Recorded live with his full band, the twang of every guitar string, the reverb of every harmony and the stomp of every band member as they perform is captured. On tracks like “Every Time I See Your Picture On My Telephone”, there are no digital textures, making everything feel more real. As a result, listeners can not only hear but also feel the heart of his music and soul in his performance.
One of the more interesting sides of Golledge that is present on Namoi is the way he romanticised the country. While this is an obvious and common theme in country music, Golledge looks at nature and the country through nostalgic, rose tinted glasses. In tracks like “Run To The River” and “When Your Mind’s Away”, which discuss issues like mental health and internal conflict, Golledge discusses the country, whether it be the rivers or the mountains, as a place of spiritual, mental and physical healing where the troubles of modern life melt away. This romanticised view of the country is very reminiscent of Australian folk music, with artists like Paul Kelly often looking to the country as a source of escapism.
This was influenced almost directly by Andy’s own life, as he fell in love with country music after he moved from Tamworth to Sydney. Cut off from the outback and working in the hustling city as a bartender at the Marrickville Bowling Club, country music is a source of nostalgic comfort for Andy. The comforting effect of country music on Golledge resonates with the audience through every guitar lick, vocal harmony and drum kick. This is best shown on the track “Dreamin’ of America”, where soft acoustic guitar strumming is layered over sweeping violins and forlorn vocals. The album’s romantic folk theme paints an image of Golledge as a rambler, stuck in his monotonous city life but comforted through his gentle dreams of the quiet countryside, like a modern-day Banjo Patterson writing of Clancy of the Overflow.
Everyone in Sydney’s Inner West remembers when they first saw Andy Golledge live, stripping bare to his undies and cowboy hat, stomping out a heavy handed country tune and making his legend known throughout the city. While the Namoi EP doesn’t quite capture the magic of these live shows, it gives fans something to listen to between sets. More importantly however, the crisp production, romantic song writing and genre-fluid performance give newcomers all the tools they need to fall in love with Andy Golledge.
Andy Golledge and his band will be launching the EP at the Old Bar in Melbourne on the 21st March and at the Lansdowne Hotel in Sydney on the 28th March. Ticket information is available here: http://www.andygolledgemusic.com/tour-dates/
