The story behind Corb Lund’s eight album involves a trip with his band the Hurtin’ Albertans down from Canada to Memphis’ legendary Sun Studio for a completely live recording session over two nights. That approach has certainly reaped rewards with the album sounding raw and alive. There is a real sense of the players bouncing off one another and riding the vibe and tempo changes in real time. Lund has taken a strong honky tonk brush to his songs with a strong rock n roll and rockabilly undercurrent and it suits their sound perfectly, regardless of the setting. Counterfeit Blues is blast of fresh air in an ageing art form.

Chris Familton

this review was first published in The Music