The Hickories

Killers opens this 5 track debut EP by The Hickories from the US. Michelle Volpe is the songwriter and lead singer and immediately her rich, vibrant voice hits you. This is a gorgeous song full of stops and starts, sweeping harmonies and a curious 60's sheen. As good as some of the best REM.

Drown and Lost In Pennsylvania are much more standard, Country fayre but they play it really well. On 1965 they cheekily steal from the jangling 60s and they finish off with a jaunty number Heather Lane and show off their lush female harmonies (Meghan Sharp is the harmony vocalist).

This is a bit more commercial than much of the stuff I receive but I do know a bit about Country music (mainly but not exclusively alt). They have a huge market for Country-based music in the States and I think The Hickories will probably make some waves in that direction. The first, stunning track tells you me they have the potential to break out and give the pop world a good shaking.