Hannah Aldridge - Dream of America

by Dave Goodwin

published: 30 / 8 / 2023

Label: Icons Creating Evil Art
Format: CD

Dark but impressive fourth album from classically-trained country artist Hannah Aldridge

Review

The daughter of Muscle Shoals legend Walt, Hannah Aldridge grew up in Alabama on the muddy banks of Muscle Shoals where she started her musical journey as a classically-trained pianist, before picking up the guitar in her early twenties. The piano was a start for Hannah but it was the guitar that sparked the dark side in her. Being immersed in Christian values has its good ideals, but also has some equally dark areas too which Hannah knows all too well. Nashville is her base these days, where she hones her considerable craft. Her first offering ‘Razor Wire’ was followed up by her second ‘Gold Rush’ and then the ‘Live in Black and White’ album, which was recorded in England. ‘Dream of America’, her fourth full outing, is released through Swedish alternative indie label Icons Creating Evil Art and is a collaboration with Swedish mix engineer Frans Hagglund, artist and Australian producers Lachlan Bryan and Damian Cararella. The shiny cover of the beautifully shot cover of this sets the tone justly and the first track ‘Dorero’ leads in that vein with a distinct cinematic edge to it. While being labelled as ‘country’ in most media, this explores other sounds which include a morbid version of indie and also throws in some synth sounds. Hannah examines the seedier, darker side of society and the plight of declining Hollywood wannabes, tired old streetwalkers and entrancing nut cases . Her smooth, melancholic vocals are brilliantly contrasted with that of her father’s on one of the standout tracks, ‘Unbeliever’ as well. There are a couple of strange inclusions in here such as a cover of Talking Heads ‘Psycho Killer’ that really shouldn’t work but strangely does and a spoken word track ‘Catacombs’, both of which showcase Hannah’s ability to diversify. ‘Beautiful Oblivion’ is more conventional in sound while the title track ‘Dream of America ‘is a small but pleasing instrumental. If I amto pick another standout of what is a splendid offering it has to be ‘The Fall’ - a duet with co-writer Ben Glover which depicts a permanent break up in a relationship. This is, all in all, a very credible fourth outing for Hannah Aldridge and in making it she has also gained another believer in the process. Marvellous.

Track Listing:-

1 Dorero
2 Portrait Of The Artist As A Middle Aged Man
3 Beautiful Oblivion
4 Unbeliever
5 Dream Of America
6 The Fall
7 Psycho Killer
8 Catacombs
9 The Great Divide