Fromohio by fIREHOSE

American music is usually divided into two broad categories - west coast (hippies and surf guitar) and east coast (NYC gangstas and hipsters), without much thought to anything in the middle. So, it makes a pleasant change to hear an album that is literally from Ohio, and a fine listen it is too.

It has a bit of post punk energy with some nice riffs, solid drums and bass lines, but what sold it for me was a brief cover of Vastopol by the great Elizabeth Cotten which just felt right slotted in with everything else. This really does feel like a group of young people getting together to play music for the fun of it, and acknowledging influences from all over the place.

Not earth shattering, but reassuringly life affirming.