TracksandGigs has received a promo of the new Micah P Hinson LP. To be honest, I approached this with some trepedation. Texan singer-songwriter Hinson's 2004 debut 'Gospel of Progress' was a fine album. Mixing alt-country with Tindersticks style epic ballads, it showed him to be a highly promising talent. 2006's follow-up album though, was disappointing, a sketchy album with some good moments but not a patch on it's predecessor.
'Gospel of Progress' was inspired by Hinson's recovery from drug addiction and time spent in the County jail in 2000 and 'The Opera Circuit' was recorded following an accident that left Hinson in agony with a back injury that required surgery. Unlike his first two records then, 'The Red Empire Orchestra' is inspired by a happy event; Hinson proposed to his girlfriend at a gig at London's Union Chapel in December 2007, she said 'yes' and they are to be married soon.
Unsurprisingly, the result is an album full of warmth and containing many songs alluding to love and comfort. As with 'Gospel of Progress', Hinson's songs, originally demoed on acoustic guitar, are embellished by string arrangements and plenty of violin and cello. He sings in a slow croon, sounding like a Texan Stuart Staples and frequently repeats the same verse throughout a song, twisting the same words around to unravel layers of meaning.
'Tell Me It Ain't So' and 'I Keep Having These Dreams' especially are gorgeous ballads with subtle string arrangements and strong melodies. 'You Will Find Me' builds into a bigger epic with electric guitar used to good effect. 'We Won't Have to be Lonesome' meanwhile is Hinson's most Country-esque song to date.
The highlights though, is 'Sunrise Over The Olympus Mons', a patient ballad with Hinson singing "...oh love of my life". His confidence in these songs shines through here, he is not afraid to sing unaccompanied or with a very minimal guitar backing. He shouldn't be afraid either, he has a rich, deep voice and sounds like none other than Lee Hazlewood here.Listening to this album several times on a warm Sunday morning was a real pleasure. It is a warm, confident album made by an artist who sounds content and secure. This is easily Hinson's finest album to date, the songs are unhurried, melodic and memorable.
8.8
'The Red Empire Orchestra' is out on July 14 on Full Time Hobby. Micah P Hinson plays The Borderline on the same day and The Scala in November.
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