Walkabouts - Shimmers

by Anthony Strutt

published: 12 / 11 / 2003

Label: Glitterhouse Records
Format: CD

intro

New 'Best of' compilation from the "graceful and elegant " Walkabouts, who remain pretty much a secret outside Central Europe

I lost touch with the Walkabouts around the time they signed to Virgin in '96. That was just a short affair lasting two albums. 'Shimmers' is, therefore, mostly new stuff to me, but it is pleasing to hear they have carried on performing and making sublime music. The band started their career on Sub Pop and were the only non grunge band on the label but only two songs from that period, 'Bordertown' and 'Poor Side of Town' are represented here. Their new home is Germany's Glitterhouse records which is a label that had adopted many fine U.S. artists and bands.'Shimmers' is a fine 'Best of', perfectly played, graceful and elegant. At times it is sad and in places country-sounding. The vocals, which are sung by the group's two front people, Chris Eckman and Carla Torgerson, are crystal clear. 2 songs, 'The Stopping Off Place' and 'A Prayer for You' remind me in their vocal style of Robert Forster of the Go Betweens, and Pennyblackmusic's very own favourites, the recently split Baptiste. Fine stuff indeed ! Pity though the band is still pretty much a secret outside central Europe !

Track Listing:-

1 Drown
2 The Light Will Stay On
3 Radiant
4 The Stopping-off Place
5 Winslow Place
6 Unwind
7 Man from Reno
8 Prayer for You
9 Bordertown
10 Poor Side of Town
11 Till I Reach You
12 Rebecca Wild
13 Findlay's Motel

Label Links:-

http://label.glitterhouse.com/
https://www.facebook.com/GlitterhouseRecords
https://twitter.com/glitterhouserec
https://www.youtube.com/user/GlitterhouseTV

interviews

Interview (2005)

The Walkabouts have just released 'Acetylene', their first album of original material in four years,and their loudest and angriest album to date. John Clarkson talks to frontman Chris Eckman about why after a decade they have gone back to their rock roots

Interview (2005)

Interview (2003)