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Image: Marcus Wright

Cy Winstanley and Vanessa McGowan are two New Zealand-born musicians based in London. Their songwriting/band project is called Her Make Believe Band. They’ve been recording their first album, and the first tracks are up on MySpace.

Years ago, back in Auckland, I played in a big band with Cy and Vanessa. Part of a web of musical contacts that now forms a network that these days spans the globe. When I knew them, they were playing a lot of jazz, and wasn’t aware of their mutual love of country music.

Image: janasfotos

You hear a lot of that country sound on these few tracks, but theres are lot more too: rich string arrangements and Fender Rhodes on Lonely Soul Blues, and assured song structures that recall Paul Simon. Cy’s voice on Last Hour is quite stunning – does this remind anyone else of Mark Hollis’ classic solo album ?  If these few tracks are a guide, then the full album could be very, very good indeed.

If you’re reading this in New Zealand, Her Make Believe Band is playing some shows in Auckland in May and June. Don’t miss them.