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| | Reviews | | | | Cast a Line review
— The Wellingtonian
Reviewed by Dave Burgess
"Absolutely perfect" ***** (Excellent)
Judging by Laura Collins’ latest album Cast a Line, she is the capital’s underground Queen of alt-country. The disc is superb and there isn’t a dud song amongst its 12 tracks (one of which is an acoustic guitar gem hidden at the end of the record).
After 2003’s One Feather at a time, Collins disappeared off my musical radar. Some of that time she spent on a pilgrimage to the US states of Louisiana and Texas where she absorbed the local vibes. She is obviously something of a musical sponge because she has returned to create a wonderful album that looks at some of the rough edges of her life – stories of failed love affairs and personal demons abound.
The songs have been stripped back and then re-arranged by Dean Heatherington, Steve Cournane, Matthew Newman and Collins herself, resulting in a collection that has room to breathe their beautiful magic.
The album is littered with perfectly placed mandolin, banjo, saxophone, and acoustic, electric and weisenborn slide guitar breaks that bring Collins’ self-penned songs to life.
Her voice conjures up a blend of Alison Krauss and Lucinda Williams on lyrics that often contain typical Kiwi images. For example Relying on the Wind sees Collins standing on Lyall Bay beach hoping the wind and water will wash away the aftertaste of a failed romance.
If there is a musical God in this world then Cast a Line will be heard by a wide audience as it is simply a stunning album. | | | | One feather at a time review
— NZ Musician
‘Collins’ new album focuses on the relationships between friends and lovers…and has echoes both lyrically and vocally of recent work by singer/songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter and Caitlin Cary. It is to Collins’ credit then that in the main her songs and vocals are up to that standard… Emotive and intimate, ‘One Feather at a Time’ is a Kiwi slice of alt country (if there is such a thing) that deserves to find and audience amongst Americana listeners.’ | | | | One feather at a time review
— Capital Times
‘Donny and Marie could have been talking about Laura Collins when they said “I’m a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll” – her album has a bit of both. On tracks such as Missing Man she has the electric guitar rocking along to a great rhythm. On other songs notably Ballad and The Best of Me, it is traditional country fare with a modern rockabilly feel. Her voice is great, so is this album.’
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