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Reviewed by Amanda Mills

Both Sides Of The Line: Party Line

Reviewed by Amanda Mills

Both Sides Of The Line: Party Line

Dunedin six-piece Both Sides Of The Line have been crafting their own brand of bluesy rockabilly for a few years now. ‘Party Line’ again highlights the smoky vocals of Glenda Rogers and the songwriting skills of Rogers and John Sule, which underpins the album. While for the most rhythmically upbeat, it’s the slinky, bluesy tracks that work best, and you can imagine Willing To Sell My Soul (surely a morality tale for young performers everywhere) being sung in a smokey jazz club, through the shuffling Reacher would be more at home in a ’60s nightclub. Occasionally, there’s some restraint on show. Let’s Pretend feels like it wants to break out of its limits while Turned Round Upside Down feels too lightweight for the story it tells. Albums with a retro ’50s and ’60s sound, and performed with a mature, classy flair are few and far between, and ‘Party Line’ fills this gap nicely. While some tracks are a little slow to get going, the rest find their groove quickly and Both Sides Of The Line sound like they are having fun, surely the best affirmation for any album.