Maverick Magazine ***** ' My favorite album this year ' Americana Ok ***** 'Album of the month' UNCUT SIMON J ALPIN On the wire Ravine Records *** Impressive debut from Serial sessioneer A redoubtable sideman for The likes of Teenage Fanclub, Willard Grant Conspiracy and Devendra Banhart, Alpin’s first solo album finds his peers repaying the debt. The mournful violin of WGC’s josh Hillman adds weight to Alpin’s minor chord guitar and lap steel, while singer Robert Fisher joins in on “All Talk”. Caitlin Cary and various Lambchop/Grand Drive alumni help too, but this is clearly Alpin’s own journey into the darker glades of country and folk. There are hints of Townes Van Zandt and gypsy Dylan, but “All Out” is a ballad fit for any haunted hymnbook. by Rob Hughes Q SIMON J ALPIN On the wire Ravine Records *** COUNTRIFIED SOLO DEBUT FROM ETERNAL SIDEMAN As a producer ansd session Musician over the last decade, Simon Alpin has worked with Teenage Fanclub,Willard Grant Conspiracy, M Ward,Devendra Barnhart and many, many others. For his solo debut -gestating for nigh on four years as his band and guest musicians worked on their own projects –he quite naturally veers towards to nocturnal and reflective rootsy milieu every bit as authentic sounding as Gillian Welch’s hillbilly drift. The gentle lowdown fiddle of Row To Hoe, upbeat Rhodes of Won’t stop, Alpin’s own simple Guitar pickings plus singing Saws, trumpets and cellos cast A spell like drowsy campfire Conversation . by Andy Fyfe