A year or two ago, roots act The South Austin Jug disbanded. Honestly, that specific news didn’t hit me terribly hard. I had caught them once in a live setting and thought they were decent enough, I suppose. I know that sounds like an insulting backhanded compliment, but it’s not, it was just one of those things, I guess.

With that said, I walked into James Hyland’s opening set for a recent Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers show with little expectations (not that expectations were low, I was just open, I guess you could say). Immediately, I was encouraged, as he had a full band with him, featuring pedal steel virtuoso Kim Deschamps on stage.  Hyland’s new brand of country is pretty sweet, actually. The sleepy, cosmic country that I was treated to that afternoon took a couple of songs to grow on me, even though I knew I enjoyed the hazy, shuffling sound. By the end of his set, I was intrigued to the point of wanting to know – and hear – more.

Well, I’m happy to report that the Hyland’s recently released record, Celestial Navigation, pleased me immensely and didn’t provide any sort of letdown from the live version of these tunes. The down-tempo tunes that, at times, pick up a bit of pace, are made for after-dark listening, as the sweetest of pedal steel guitars of the stellar Deschamps drapes it’s aching ribbon throughout the album.

I have to say, if I hear that this band breaks-up anytime soon, I think it’ll bum me out a great deal. So, before that happens, please go to James Hyland’s Bandcamp page and buy the album, using the “name your price” method.

Kelly Dearmore is a freelance writer, mean pot of chili maker and opinionated music lover. To read more about what Kelly is listening to, visit him here on The Squawker weekly or daily on his personal music blog, The Gobblers Knob