One of the most exciting areas for new weird Americana is in the land Down Under, believe it or not. And after over 40 years of being largely defined by Nick Cave, INXS and AC/DC, it really is damn good to see the influence of such long established acts as Paul Kelly & The Messengers and Midnight Oil imbued through the sounds of modem artists like Ruby Boots and Henry Wagons bringing new life to the concept of country music and roots rock on a global scale. Heck, speaking of INXS, even Andrew Farriss is getting in on the country game with his forthcoming solo debut.
As one half of the internationally acclaimed folk duo The Ahern Brothers, Josh Rennie-Hynes has surely played a key role in the evolution of Australian Americana. But for his third solo LP Patterns, he took full advantage of the Nashville Songwriters Residency grant bestowed upon him by the Australian Council for the Arts. With the blessing of his continent, Rennie-Hynes headed to Tennessee and set up shop at the legendary Sound Emporium Studios. And like any wayfaring stranger worth his or her salt breezing through the Music City streets, Josh rounded up a new generation of Nashville Cats to create his grittiest and most compelling work yet.
