There are quite a few jaunty songs on this album, which collectively suggest that the band members have quite a good time – they certainly sound like they’re enjoying themselves. In a world where the stakes are so high for each song, each album, that artists have to take every moment very seriously, enjoyment can often be absent. I can count on one hand the artists I’ve seen play live who smile while they’re doing it (smiling while they’re talking between songs doesn’t count) – but it sounds like The Sacreblues Band could be added to that number. There is such lightness here – almost playfulness – that I happily listened to this album about twenty times before I remembered that I needed to review it.
Perhaps the concept of an Irish-French Americana band sounds unusual to you too. But hopefully by the time you read this you’ll be convinced that a different perspective on old traditions can be deliciously good fun, for The Sacreblues Band have made it so.
Sad Reality is out now.
www.thesacrebluesband.com