Zarbo Zarbo CD

ZARBO fly a battered Union Jack over an Americana landscape, playing songs of loneliness, Elvis, monkeys and working in supermarkets. Formed from the burnt out wreckage of an unstable and frankly disappointing cabaret act, the amazing ZARBO finally pulled themselves out of the musical gutter and produced something quite odd. Being deeply unpopular with other musicians and unwilling to share earnings, the duo learned to play old drums with their feet whilst still grinding away on Banjos, Guitars and Dobros. With the additional help of a lever operated 'magic harmony machine', kazoos and the incredible 'invisible bass' they produce the sound of a four piece band but with half the ego and drink problems. Like the 'smoke and mirrors' of the Victorian illusionists, ZARBO appear to do the impossible but there are no loops, no backing tracks or tricks - just the musical dexterity and lofty ambition only the extremely talented or over-confident would attempt. With a turn-of-the-century medicine show complete with vintage lighting, gramophones, mannequins and nasty old musical instruments, there's nothing quite like the amazing ZARBO. UN-Peeled / April 2011: 'Zarbo, quite amazingly, manage to combine Olde English folk music dirt n death with tight wired and schmaltz free American country music. It's a match made in heavenand made heavenly by the lyrical dexterity and the technical excellence. They're only a two man band, but they write, play and produce all their material and tour in their Zarbovan. They also have a 'lever operated harmony unit' and it's used to create magic. Magic comes frequently on this album, on 'Tuesday Night' for a start, a strolling, rolling, slow walked shanty that wisely warns 'no one going to carry you home when it's raining and it's Tuesday night' and this is an absolutely perfect track, the banjo is sub-bleeding-lime, all confident restraint and finely etched framework for the easy yaw n pitch of the track and this is a track that encapsulates what Andy Heath and Paul Bishop are doing so matter of factly, so elegantly and so well. They are weaving styles, sounds, words and instrumentation that include - Americana, Cornish folk, country-punking, music hall, gothic-carnival and wholesome, cheery cruelty, really, check 'Whole Lot Better'. So, this record sounds like American country music redeemed and refreshed with English bile. Or, this record sounds like cheerily brutal British folk saved and elevated by American insistence on mastery of the instruments and the tunes. Either way, 'Zarbo' is one of the best albums you can own, listen to, deconstruct, or drink along to.' Maverick / July 2011: 'The concluding tune is stunning. Healed by the hands of Elvis imagines that, when a person dies, they will be comforted by the King of Rock and Roll in his home Graceland. It is a wonderful ode to a style of music which Andy and Paul have deep understanding and appreciation of. Country music should be proud of having this album in their midst, especially when the Dobro used on this ending track instantly sends shivers down the spine....' Rock n Reel / June 2011: 'The vinyl crackle to kick off proceedings highlights the direction of the zany Zarbo in no un-certain terms. Song titles such as 'Man Monkey', 'Moany Moany' and 'Soul Vampires' successfully promote the fluctuating theme of obscure non-conformity, and so it proves. Andy Heath and Paul Bishop are the folk-charmers behind Zarbo, performing with traditional instruments to put their contemporary movement very much in the past. There's slow urban-pop blues in amongst the mix too, in 'One Too Many Yesterdays', as well as cowboy harmony in 'Whole Lot Better'. The entire album has a mournful feel more of a dusk than dawn, but it is driven by a rumbling of optimistic landscape from the left fields of prohibition, circus and journeyman experience. Glorous misery is sealed with 'Slaughterhouse Rag' and Bishop's close affinity with his banjo makes even the doom-laden tunes full of spirit and hope. Dark and Light in equal measure, the mystery is the main attraction is this assured debut.' Americana-UK / July 2011: 'Zarbo cut a mean tune, especially the ballads. (Andy) Heath sounds like he means it and Paul Bishop picks his banjo with world weary resignation.' Peterborough Today / July 2011 'Their music is enjoyable rootsy pop which recalls Mark Knopfler's work with it's world-weary charm'. Penny Black Music / August 2011 Heath resembles both Tom Robinson and John Prine. He is a songwriter's songwriter, having written for Sinead O'Connor and Eno. Paul Bishop is a successful Nashville session player. The combination works so well that the album seems like it would be a follow-up, not a debut. Zarbo's self-titled, CD is rife with solid writing and definitely worth a listen. Their music is enjoyable rootsy pop which recalls Mark Knopfler's work with it's world-weary charm.

1. Man Monkey 2. Don't End Up Working in a Supermarket 3. One Too Many Yesterdays 4. Tuesday Night 5. Moany Moany 6. Soul Vampires 7. Precious Thing 8. Whole Lot Better 9. Walking Back to Happiness 10. Talking to Da Man 11. Slaughterhouse Rag 12. Healed By the Hands of Elvis