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West Wall releases Country Western Album on Plateau Records
Debut LP is also first major Release for new Label
Nevaras City, Duchy of Nevaras
October 25, 5634


West Wall, the quintet from Nevaras City focuses mainly on Country and Rock

"Well, we'd do straight country if we thought it would sell records," said West Wall singer and primary song writer Hank Nestor about his band's debut LP Mountain Song. "As it is we included some folk and some straight rock too, to give Kalistani audiences something to bite into whatever their tastes." The album, which is the first major release from the new Nevaras based label Plateau Records, represents a fairly eclectic mix of music that not only refers to a much older, more fundamental sound in terms of recording techniques and styles, but also adopts a number of what is more often called a "western sound" that borrows from Nevaran and Vrassan musical traditions more than Suldanoran or Anantan styles.

"A lot of this stuff is closer to blues rock and folk rock in some ways than it is to alternative," said West Wall drummer and second vocalist Keith Jackson. "Mickey (bassist Mickey Hewitt) and Ben (Lead guitarist and back up vocalist Benjamin Daniel Green) are from over in Baltusia, and they bring a different element into the band than we would have gotten if we had stuck with just Kalistani musicians, and our kind of music isn't really heard on Kalistani radios a lot, so we hope we can change that and introduce people to that."

The album has already received positive early reviews from critics who praise the analog production, the tightness of the sound, and the different musical styles found on the record. "This stuff hearkens back to a pre-industry period of Kalistani Music," said Jan Watts, reviewer for KRM. "We don't often hear a lot of albums where the studio tricks aren't transparent. Maybe our ears just aren't tuned into the ones this band is doing for this record, but maybe they really are just this good. Either rate, the record is refreshing, fun and really reflects the things they have been doing in Nevaras for a long time."

Nestor laughed when he heard the suggestion that the band was being innovative with their analog sounds. "Ah, well, you know, we're kind of a start up. We have an 8 track board. There's not a lot we can do about that analog sound: if we want to get better gear, we gotta make some more money."

Most of the people who have heard it say they like it, and praise it as "mellow" even in places where it rocks. Some, however have returned mixed reviews. "Well, I don't really know if I can fully get into it," said Brad Francis, music editor for the Dana Record Review. "There's a couple stand outs, like the single 'Standin on the Ground', but there is also a lot of music that is just too far out for my palate. There is obviously a market for this out west, but West Wall might need a little more refinement before they become the huge recording artists they want to become."

The Album, Mountain Sound is receiving major promotional pushes to radio and Television, but so far, in its first two weeks, sales have been modest, with much of the activity centered on the first single, "Standin on the Ground" which is a country folk tune about a the serenity Nestor finds in a very down to earth, realistic relationship. "There are a lot of alt-folk fans in Vrassa and Nevaras," said Francis. "This record will do great out there, and if they can get international distribution, they will probably do really well in Baltusia and Likatonia. Who knows: maybe Ananto is in the mood for a change. But I think until this Label scores a major hit album, it will still remain in the class of independent labels, and its pretense as a major will remain in question."

"Ah, you know, its alright if we don't hit it huge with the first album," said Nestor. "This is just the start, you know, and if we can do this, and even have a little bit of success, first of all, that's more than we've done so far, and second, it will put us on the map and let other artists know to come and check us out. If you ever got turned down at one of the big labels, maybe send your demo to Plateau, and we'll put your stuff out."

You can get Mountain Song at any local album store, and check out the video for "Standin on the Ground" right here.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPYYfYAWoj8]

@KalistaniRawkMonthly