Johnny Angel & Helldorado – Long Days, Short Pay
This collection’s principal creator fronted “Johnny Angel & The Swingin’ Demons,” a 17-piece band in New Orleans whose booking opportunities there were blown away in Hurricane Katrina. Then a Country CD was readied for release only to face the COVID disruption! Subsequently Angel’s Western Swing and Country efforts have been recognized (and awarded) by the Academy of Western Artists. And he has now moved into its Western category.
This collection ranks as one of the more unusual assemblages yet encountered. Most tracks are big production numbers, including sound texturing under what Angel calls “short stories.” I’d use “brief essays.” Three of the ten tracks are narrations, including a promotional piece for Traditional Country as a genre and the recording studio itself! “Cattle Drive [Helldorado]” is a spoken paean to the trail drive cowboys of yesteryear, delivered by singer/songwriter & cowboy Chuck Cusimano. The narration of “Stampede” is performed by Bryan Stinson over strong effects and scoring illustrating the hell of that situation. The title “Long Days, Short Pay” says it all for that harmonized clip-clop song (the last track is a thirty second reprise of it). And some Country and Gospel-ish songs have come along for the ride.
By strict content, I’d position the release more as an atmospheric EP than an album. Overall we’ll brand this an interesting indication of potential things to come. Fair enough?
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– by Rick Huff
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Johnny Angel & Helldorado – Long Days, Short Pay