Lowlands

Though they are on his label, Marah don’t sound a whole lot like Steve Earle. He has described them as “a literate AC/DC” but that only partly touches on the truth.

While Marah rock, they owe as much to Springsteen, Dylan, Woodie Guthrie and Jimmie Rodgers as they do the metal monsters. There’s also more than a touch of good ol’ Southern boogie and Philly soul in the blend too. Finally, add a pinch of Replacements and you’re just about there.

Marah’s second album has once again been produced by the band and their soundman Paul Smith. And, once again, it’s been done outside of the clinical studio system, so that the rough edges still remain. For instance, a key song like ‘Christian Street’ (about the locality where writing brothers and singers Dave and Serge Bielanko live) has a rough-edged vocal that fits perfectly with soulful horns, lap steel, insistent rhythm and a great ‘So Come On’ terrace chorus.

The variety of stuff here – often within a single song – may take a bit of getting used to, but persist and you’ll soon see why Earle and others are so taken with Marah.

They may wear their hearts and influences on their sleeves, but they transcend that to create articulate and appealing rock’n’roll.