Alberta Cross - Leave Us, Or Forgive Us
[Fiction]

Anthony And The Johnsons gave music a kick up the backside several years back with their smash n’ grab Mercury Prize victory, giving off-kilter exploration and falsetto grounding a needed shot in the arm.

London based duo Peter Ericson Stakee and Terry Wolfers, who combine to make Alberta Cross, seeks to revive this spirit, taking a twisted alt country slant with occasional blues funk deviations to show their raw and rugged side. These four tracks leap off with uncompromising bluesy ruggedness, as Stakee stomps out from a kicking tempo of heart-beat percussion and chasing guitars, exuding a hurried and worried vibe, ‘Rambling Home’.

A slow and troubled blues/country stroke nudges ‘Thief & The Heartbreaker’ into more emotive and expressive territory. It’s certainly the sort of approach that brings out the closeness and feeling of this pair of musical troubadours. A slow rumbling acoustic element ensures that yearning grit takes centre stage in ‘I’ve Known For Long’, providing a wistful conclusion to a stirring foray of heart, soul and a sprinkling of quirkiness.