The Sweet Sorrows: The couple who fuse Celtic music and Americana

Friday 4th August 2017

Tony Cummings met up with Sammy and Kylie Horner of rootsy duo THE SWEET SORROWS



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The Sweet Sorrows: The couple who fuse Celtic music and Americana

Sammy continued, "We recorded mostly at our home studio in Wexford. We set the drums up in the living room and Phil had an idea to record more like a performance. Kylie and I got close around the mic in the little 'control' room we have beside the living room. . ."

Awhile after my chat with The Sweet Sorrows I asked Phil why he'd agreed to fly to Ireland and produce 'Celticana'. He responded, "This is the fourth record I've done with Sammy, my first with The Sweet Sorrows. Money is always important to the process, but it's never my first consideration. Sammy and I have a long term friendship and have walked with each other through life's hard stuff. I'm always going to say yes to him. He's an inspirational guy, and one of the best songwriters I know. Sammy can write about the Gospel without making you feel like he's trying to change you. He knows how to tell the story that can change your life. I like helping him do that.

"I knew we'd be working in a makeshift studio and I had just done something similar with a duo called The Moseleys in Florida. I brought drummer Dennis Holt with me and recorded him, Kylie and Sam all together (in two different rooms). I employed a very basic microphone technique on the drums and had one mic on Sammy and Kylie, who sang 'live' together. Chris Donohue, who plays in Emmylou Harris' band with me, did the bass online, and I finished the electric guitar, keyboards and such at home in Nashville.

"Sammy's the real deal, and I knew that I needed to capture that realness, not worrying about flaws so much as performance. Again, Sammy's connection to the God narrative is something that can't be polished, lacquered or faked. I think we nailed it."

I asked Phil, Kylie and Sammy what were their favourite tracks on 'Celticana'. Said Phil, "I can't say I have a favourite, but I'll say that I was delighted to get to help finish 'The Angel's Share', because I relate to it. Most of us have someone in our lives who we let go of; someone who will keep coming back to curse you. That's what this song is about. More importantly, that Sammy's mind works this way - using a whisky phrase - 'the angel's share' - and twisting it so perfectly to his own devices. Sheer poetry."

Kylie plumped for the album's haunting final track, "Each Man's Labour". "In this complex world, this track is uncomplicated, sweet and heartfelt. It warmed me like a lullaby the first time I heard it. Sincerity."

Sammy was particularly pleased with how "Heartbreaking Beautiful" turned out. He explained, "It was inspired by our beautiful Australian friend Janette Geri when we were driving across Victoria in Australia. She has a way of seeing the beauty in the 'ordinary' things in life. She said some tree was 'heart breaking beautiful' and the song kinda popped into my head. The Nashville boys really put the country stamp on it and the accordion adds some Irish flavour."

For me "Each Man's Labour" is the pinnacle of another fine album. Speaking about the song Sammy remembered, "Songwriting is a spiritual experience in a sense that creativity is something of a mystery. Sometimes a song will just happen. I was pretty ill earlier this year and at one particularly low point I was feeling very sorry for myself as I lay curled up on the couch. I had no real inspiration, but suddenly this song formed in my head and I had to get up and record the demo. . . the whole song came to me almost complete. It is a simple old style country gospel tune about what is important."

And indeed these labourers for Christ will continued in their efforts hopefully for years to come. CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.
About Tony Cummings
Tony CummingsTony Cummings is the music editor for Cross Rhythms website and attends Grace Church in Stoke-on-Trent.


 
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