The hillbillies and misfits rejoice as Maungaturoto-based two-piece, The Advocators, release their debut album ‘Songs from an Endless Night’, for independent release.
Songs from an Endless Night was recorded between bitter sou-westerly squalls in a barn-studio out the back of Tomarata. The recordings were supported by William Jackson (Sharpie Crows, Erny Belle), Anita Clark (Motte, The Phoenix Foundation, Nadia Reid). and mastered by Chris Chetland of Kog Studio.
The album has a sparse, gritty, vintage sound, oscillating between bluegrass country ballads and hostile gospel stomp rock and features the singles ‘Dreams’, ‘Bad Girls’, ‘Elijah’ and ‘Waitin’ Round to Die’ (the latter an abrasive cover of the profound and haunting Townes Van Zandt song)
Flirting with both cynicism and naive hope, the album explores themes of unrequited love, contempt, disillusionment, and redemption.
The songs on the album were written largely in isolation by Leroy Brown (guitar, banjo, and lead vocals) and Mark Bruce (guitar, backing vocals and melodica). The result of this isolation is a singular set of songs with raw emotion and meticulous attention to lyricism.
Tour dates to all the hillbilly hotspots around New Zealand are set to be announced for later this year, keep an eye on Instagram for further details to come.