4

Label: Secretly Canadian

Produced by: George Ingram (mastered by)

I suppose your take on this is going to be based on your feelings toward either Jason Molina or Alasdair Roberts.

Two distinctive voices and a guitar.  Each artist, to my ears, takes the lead on one side of this single, each covering an apparently traditional song (based on the copyright) that either matches or is played to their general stylings.  For Molina, Ten Thousand Miles, is a sparse love song, with just a touch of support from Roberts on the chorus.  The production is crisp and his strumming is strong, and unlike latter-day recorded-as-Molina (and not Songs:Ohia) work, Jason is emoting and letting the notes ring out, instead of, erm, wallowing in the music.

Alasdair’s track feels like more of a collabo with Molina’s vocals much more present, but the folly nature of the song is very much Alasdair, and his twang leads the pace for a slightly more upbeat reminiscence, The Green Mossy Banks of the Lea.  The song carries on many one chorus too long, but the rendition is very soulful and listenable.

Two strong solo acts that complement each other and cross over while still allowing each respective side to sound like the main contributor’s own jam.