Garnett Betts: Highfield (digital outlets)

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Garnett Betts: Highfield (digital outlets)

Although this album by Canadian singer/guitarist Garnett Betts came out late last year, we'd bet high odds that few in this country have heard it, or of him.

But with his appealing vocals style – sometimes country-blues, sometimes closer to Bruce Hornsby's easy style – he should have strong appeal here for those who have remained loyal to his fellow Canadian Bruce Cockburn.

Here with the excellent pianist Karel Roessingh and bassist Rick May, Betts tells stories with astute detail (Smart Guys Don't Fade Away), plays a little acoustic folk guitar with piano and Irish-sounding penny-whistle synths of Farther On (a Mark Knopfler soundtrack in the house) and a kind of piano bar showtune singer on our Great Estate (which you could imagine slotting easily into the satirical TV series The Politician).

This is an album which is easy on the ear as it plays off some familiar touchstones (Billy Joel, country-rock, Jimmy Buffet etc).

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You can hear this album on Spotify here.


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