Out Of Blue Yonder

Out Of Blue Yonder is our new album - it's a mix of some older songs with some brand new stuff. All in the Osborne Jones style - and if you're not familiar with that then basically if you like George, Merle, Dwight and their buddies you'll love this. We started the recording of these tunes in Silverlake Studios in sunny Los Angeles and got some friends to help out - including the great Rick Shea (from Dave Alvin's band) who is heavily featured on Steel on a number of tracks. We then moved to London (not so sunny) and brought in some other friends (we're friendly guys) to add some more flourishes (fiddle, sax and some more steel) and finish of the album. It's probably the most polished thing we've put out but it retains that 'rustic' charm - and is, as usual, focused on the songs and the stories. Included is a remix of Ballad of a Londoner - from our album based on the poems of James Elroy Flecker - and it's one of the larger transformations - and really comes to life. All in all there's some great stuff on here that we know you'll enjoy. Here's what On the Route to Memphis Magazine said about Out of Blue Yonder.... A CD that will keep you guessing a bit in that it takes a step back somewhat from some of the usual references in matters of music. First off, it's worth mentioning that Osborne Jones is a duo made up of David Osborne and Gwyn Jones who are English, but live in London and Los Angeles. The music they make is totally country, and even old school country, with a priority on the vocals. Those vocals are drawling and supple, backed with restrained instrumentation, but with everything you'd want in a pedal steel sound. What makes their style particular is the addition of their voices and those of the musicians to produce some very nice harmonies. If one were to pin down a reference, one could say that we are in a George Jones space here but often, with the multiple voices, also one of English folk styles. There are some very cool, very classic country sounds like 'Rhinestone Heart', 'Mysterious Ways', ballads like 'Abandoned Me', or 'Love in a Recession' and then some folkier pieces like 'The Bond'. 'Ballad of a Londoner' is in fact a (the CD's only) cover of a traditional English song. The most appealing song might be 'I'm in Pieces', an up-tempo piece with a good dose of pedal steel and group vocals. A very pleasing CD, good listening.