Annie Duggan Band: If I Knew Then …
With such a reliable following, an established live reputation, and three well-received albums already under their belt, The Annie Duggan Band could well be forgiven for sticking to what they know and do best. “If I Knew Then…”, however, makes no such assumptions. While 2005’s “One for the Road” saw their trademark hi-energy folk-blues take on a pronounced roots rocking style, this new collection moves closer to a purer country sound with an undeniable Nashville feel. This is immediately evident in Annie’s own lead vocals, less urgent and consequently more measured and mature than before, and in the sterling work of newly recruited rhythm section Alan Shotter and Gordon Taylor, who lay down a backbeat which combines dependability with both flexibility and subtlety. Eight of the eleven tunes featured are courtesy of accomplished in-house songsmith Colin Granger, including “Ain’t That A Shame” and “Travellin’ Man Blues”, reworked wholesale from their original versions on the debut disc. Stand-outs however include a moving cover of the Billy Joe Shaver ballad “Live Forever”, and drummer Taylor’s “Dream of You” featuring a highly effective violin cameo from Kerrie Vernon. As ever Rob Hine’s guitar work is outstanding throughout, jangling with flashes of Johnny Marr-like lyricism on the slower numbers and soaring away heroically as the momentum gathers on hard rocking live favourite “Sucking Down Air”. Recorded in Wales with Groundhog Dave Anderson this fourth collection is probably the most stylistically mature and musically accomplished the band have produced to date.
