“The Thief & the Heartbreaker”
from the EP The Thief & the Heartbreaker
2007
iTunes
Here’s a short, sweet, rootsy debut from nu-folk foursome Alberta Cross, and, as its title suggests, there’s a lingering sense of heartbreak on every sun-drenched corner. And it’s one you’ll want to wallow in.
Laden with vocals ringing with vulnerable androgyny, this London-based bunch offer a glowing treasure chest of quality as opposed to quantity. There’s a lot to be said for leaving ’em wanting more — and that’s exactly what The Thief & the Heartbreaker does.
Helmed by songwriting duo Petter Ericson Stakee and Terry Wolfers, Alberta Cross are fine purveyors of sun-soaked San Fran sensibilities balanced with a welcome dose of East End edginess — and it’s no surprise they are garnering an ever-growing army of followers.
The shimmering title track is a perfect straw-chewing summer melody, and is by far the strongest song on this self-produced release. “Lucy Rider” glitters with darker moods — this and many of the tracks here tipping a hat to The Band and Neil Young. The album closes with “The Devil’s All You Ever Had,” complete with gospel singers — a perfectly voluminous swansong rounding off a veritable sea of emotions and Americana, a path well-trodden by The Thrills of course.
Derivative they may be, but Alberta Cross are steadily forging their own path — and they know exactly where they’re going.