Not long after recording the Split Decision album ‘Radio Hearts’ in 1992, Don Mularz returned to the studio with some of the members of that band to record “Mean Old World” plus a few other songs which would later appear on Dark Horse Flyer albums. Years later he returned to the tapes from those sessions, but even though he had them baked, the ADAT recordings were unsalvageable and instead of giving up he decided instead to undertake the work again, meaning this album took 32 years from start to finish. While Don provides vocals, guitars, bass, dobro, pedal steel, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica and drums he is again joined by his old sparring partner Bob Taylor (Split Decision, Dark Horse Flyer) on piano and organ, along with Beth Cohen (Barbra Streisand, Boston, Berry Gibb, Dark Horse Flyer) on harmony vocals while Richard Taylor (Dark Horse Flyer) provides fretless bass on one song.

Given “Mean Old World” was one of the songs originally intended for this set I totally get why it opens the album, but I honestly wish it had been placed at the end as it is a powerful Americana rock number which sets the stage with nice electric guitar and a feeling that it could be from a modern version of The Band with organ playing a key role. But it is actually quite out of step with what follows on from that, and while I understand the rationale, I do think it would have been placed better at the end. The reason for me thinking that is what we have here is mostly an acoustic folk singer/songwriter Americana album, which is an absolute delight. I was surprised at just how much it reminds me of Jay Turner, and English singer/songwriter who approaches his acoustic music from the English folk direction, but while Don has a different foundation they somehow meet in the middle with some every catchy and effective material indeed. “Twenty One” could be a Mundy-Turner number, but instead of Cath’s harmonies we have Beth giving us the dual vocal approach, plus there is some delicious mouth organ which provides depth and gravitas.

That last is a really good work to describe the whole album to be honest, as this is a grown-up release which has no relevance to modern musical fashion and is very much the better for it. It is an album out of time, as Don brings in different layers as he moves in and out of country, using fiddle and pedal steel to set the scene. The closing title track is where we truly get very close indeed to The Band, with a real poignancy and emotional draw which grabs hold of us and takes us into the heart of the music. Yet another great discovery on the Peacock Sunrise label. 8/10fferent level.     8/10 Kev Rowland