Riding in from the badlands of Kettering with his trusty team of
pistoleros in tow, comes a man who has clearly done a lot of living and
taken the time to chronicle it all in his sharply-observed, poignant songs.
His recent album "Through Any Window" offers a range of thoughtful
character studies and wry reflections on a full life richly lived.
The music is deceptively simple and inviting, but cast about with
mysterious and faintly intimidating ambient shadows, perhaps along
the lines of one of John Cale's early solo albums.
(He's got a song about cowboys, too.)
When our Master’s of Budvar talent scouts last clocked
Kevin and the band they were grinding out a truly frightening
tune about Robert Johnson, the Devil and...
well, you should just listen for yourselves.
http://www.jazzbutcher.com/htdb/

From
"OVERPLAY"

The saying goes that there are only really two types of music:
Country. And western. Whilst that may be true, there is certainly more than
one country. Kevin Buxton & Kontra Band speak of cowboys and angels,
but the Kettering foursome take their wagon train through the hills and
vales of England with an intelligent, soulful and modern folk sound.

The album is punctuated by a series of leather-comfy laid back rockers.
“A Cowboy Again” sees Kevin’s hushed Anglo Kenny Rogers vocal slide
over graceful synths. Meanwhile, “Everywhere I Go”, “Getting Old” and
“Any Fool Can Fall In Love” exude an easy, slightly Tom Pettyesque
charm. And on “Long Cool Glass Of Beer”, Kevin lays on a refined
Dylan-style slice of the adult country pop cake.

It’s not all big chords and nice sunsets though. “Julia’s Angel”
sparkles with ethereal grace, “The Joke” builds with a steady menace
and “Fool’s Farewell” has the bare acoustic trappings and rich
bleakness of anything from Neil Diamond’s “12 Songs”.
Things finally take off into another dimension, however, with “The World’s End”.
This slow, stately and slightly barmy closer piles on layer after layer of
widescreen synths, monastic vocals and even some
not-very-folky bongos to build its own quiet Apocalypse.
Quite chilly, a bit spooky, but very engaging and it’s just another
way that Kevin Buxton and friends prove that good country can’t be fenced in.
www.overplay.co.uk

From
"FATEA"

Kevin Buxton & Kontra Band will be releasing a new album in the not too distant.
They've already spent time in the studio. As preperation for the new release
the band are giving the 2005 album, "Through Any Window" one last push.
As an album it's definitely worthy of the effort. The album has a quirky
sound, taking in a number of English regions. There's some good
harmony vocals to support the main voice. It's music that feels like
country roads, briefly pausing to let the sheep cross in front of you.
Stopping at the village pub to exchange stories and walking home.
http://www.fatea.freeserve.co.uk/index.htm