The Mavericks - Moon & Stars.

THE MAVERICKS 

MOON & STARS

Mono Mundo/Thirty Tigers

Like a precision tooled Swiss Army knife, The Mavericks cut and craft a broad range of musical stylings in the studio and onstage. Their sharp execution, mastery of their craft and entertaining delivery helps them to avoid any musical ruts and genre categorisations and in frontman, Raul Malo, they possess a once in every generation voice that would make Johnny Cash gulp with pride. On this 13th studio release, Moon & Stars is a shimmering record of songs that informs and entertains. Strikingly good old musical sketches that were once shelved are dusted down, completed and fit in beautifully with this album's overall absorbing ambience. The title track's country/tex ballad and Malo's co-write with legendary lyricist, Bernie Taupin, on The Years Won't Be Kind are two standouts. The upbeat and saucy Live Close By (Visit Often), a seductive duet with Nicole Atkins) is a sublime tale on those drowning in love and is as catchy as a mermaid's kiss. To summarise, there's something for everyone within this finely crafted release.

PAUL DAVIES