The members of Horsebath may all be born and bred Canadians, but their record collection is clearly crammed with musicians well south of the border.
Their 10-song debut, Another Farewell, is slathered in Cosmic Country, Tex Mex and Americana, bringing to mind everyone from Gram Parsons to Doug Sahm. But they also manage to sneak in some inspiration from fellow Canadian Leonard Cohen via their sharp, introspective lyrics.
The band – comprised of Daniel Connolly, Etienne Beausoleil, and brothers Keast and Dagen Mutter – produced the record alongside a third Mutter brother, Neil. The band members manage to switch up their instruments from song to song. Another Farewell has the distinction of both sounding like a classic 1970s antiestablishment country record out of Austin, while also boasting enough contemporary flourishes to keep it tethered to the modern alt country world.
You can hear the late ‘60s/early’70s Cosmic Country influences via the psychedelic guitars on tracks like “In The Shade.” And there are even hints of the Bakersfield Country sounds on a song like “Only In My Dreams” or the album opener “Hard To Love,” complete with a strong twangy guitar/boogie woogie piano. On “Train To Babylon” a quintessential… well, train song, the band create a perfect homage to songs like “Dixie Flyer” or “Wabash Cannonball”. Elsewhere, on “Don’t Know What It Is,” the band lays down a beautiful country waltz.
The title track, one of the record’s slower moments, finds the band creating another stunning song, while “Long & Lonesome” strikes a more ominous tone. Toward the end of the album, “Never Be Another You,” finds the band experimenting instrumentally. The record closes on “Turn My Lover Loose,” a Bluesy song that has a strong 1970s vibe to it.
Across 10 tracks, Horsebath manage to take a slew of classic country and Americana influences and filter them through their own experiences to create a wholly original record that pays respect while also moving the genres into a new era.
