A concept album of sorts, the second solo release from the Mekons founder and Chicago-expat charts the rise and demise of honky-tonker Lofty Deeds as a metaphor for US history. Like all things Langford, though, it’s not heavy-handed or portentous, the music rollicking like a midnight special braced against the hard wind of his uniquely British delivery. Amid the hillbilly clatter?and covers of Procol Harum (“Homburg”) and Bob Wills (“Trouble In Mind”)?the Welshman takes swipes at the US (“The Country Is Young”) while revamping past glories with both the skiffle-guitar and bar-room piano of “Over The Cliff” and a wonderful Hank Williams lament, “Nashville Radio”.
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