NME review of Red Lights & Miss Whiskey:
"Like Nick Drake & Beck sharing a rollie on a park bench. Very autumnal,
I think you'll agree."
Paul Moody
Losing Today Review:
Ali MacQueen ..Red Lights.. (Hope Recordings). Ali MacQueen's debut 2 track 7" oozes potential and passion by the bucket load while providing overwhelming evidence that there is at present a growing increase of solo singer / songwriters out there and about worthy of the time and patience seeking them out. The lead cut Red lights opens the proceedings and its soon made obvious that its an almost male take on that burning edginess that was so often prevalent at the root of PJ Harvey's early Dryera work made all the more inspired at the way the jostling elements of skewed folk and the subtle wrappings of the blues amble along like pissed buddies after a night's session.
An end of term report would read along the lines of would be Beck if at all arsed. My favourite of the two is the flip cut Miss Whiskey and yes the Ryan Adams references may well be apt here although I'd have difficulty trying to recall straight off the top of my head the last time an Adams composition sucked me emotionally dry. Not being one it seems to romance or woo the listener, MacQueen prefers instead to wear you down, this neat happily unhappy tearjerker stumbles along bleary eyed in painfully introspective fashion and yet for all its telling melancholy its cast amid a slyly jaunty acoustic delivery that'll breathlessly blow most away. A diamond of a debut.
Wide Open Road review of Red Lights & Miss Whiskey:
Although alt-rock isn't really my idea of a good round of golf, I like to think I can still appreciate a fine record whatever the time of day. This is a strong 45 despite its obvious budgetary restrictions: white label, stamped and spray-painted sleeve. Don't let that fool you. I can easily picture MacQueen doing a couple of singles on Fierce Panda before getting signed to EMI. Why not? I can't imagine him doing a worse job than Robbie Williams or Dizzie Rascal. So stop buying what you're told to buy and try something different instead.
Bassist and drummers get in touch: you'll find a good home here.AM