Notes

Colter Wall Apron Little Songs of the Plains
Colter Wall Apron


The past two years have witnessed the Saskatchewan native cross the globe in a bid to leave his mark on the world of country music. His slack arrangements as well as soulful yodel, acoustic guitar have earned him a name. He's been likened to Sturgill Childers as well as Tyler Childers.


He's turned his attention this year to the western customs by celebrating their rich history and urging others to join him to bring them back into the mainstream. His new album, Little Songs, is an amalgamation of traditional songs from the cowboy genre that are guaranteed to please the ardent fans who have stuck by him throughout this journey up to now.


It's a record that's extravagant and spacious and expansive, as the prairie boy who hails from Swift Current, Saskatchewan takes the time to immerse himself in each song and let it breathe. Official Colter Wall Merchandise Store draws inspiration from his previous record Songs of the Plains, which had a minimalist arrangement that let his voice shine in a stripped-down setting.


He has a knack for conveying the essence of broad Canadian landscapes, particularly when the songs are performed through the eyes of a lonely cowboy who can't bear leaving his home in Canada without a trace. He gets the most out of this using a little production and a clear baritone sound, which has been developed as an instrument on its own.


Through Songs of the Plains, his lyrical prowess is evident and. His stories that are timeless and provide an escape from everyday life, capture a sense of isolation. The druggie tale "Manitoba Man", and the song's title track, "John Beyers" (Camaro Song) is written in a way as to reveal a desperation that is rooted in his personal experiences.


This is particularly true of the traditional folk songs, that are filled with an emotional sadness that is difficult to ignore when it comes through a horse's mouth. This is especially true of the traditional folk songs, which are covered with a melancholy that's hard to miss when it comes from the mouth of a horse for instance "Diamond Joe" or the haunting "I ride an old paint."


The album contains a variety of cover versions. The songs include Marty Robbins’ "Big Iron," Stan Jones’ "Cowpoke," as well as Lewis Martin's "High & Mighty." The singer doesn't use the smooth harmonies of the originals but manages to capture their quiet and resonant qualities.



In between, Wall has the rare gift of blending traditional music and his own contemporary preferences in a way which isn't stale or forced. In "Cowpoke," for example the lonesome harp as well as the yodel remain however, they're joined by harmonica player Mickey Raphael and steel guitarist Lloyd Green to elevate the song into something more reflective of Wall's own style than any other song.


Colter Wall's unique style of Western Music, while remarkable in its own right it has the potential to become even more influential by bringing the traditional cowboy song back into the forefront of modern music. He's a guy who just desires to sing these tunes and tell the stories of his life as well as the songs he heard along the way, without worrying about whether they have any commercial appeal or whether anyone are willing to listen.

Here's my website: https://www.colterwallmerch.com/