Album Notes

New Cattlestops album “Back To Rosetta Rd” May 2007

Kapiti-based country band the Cattlestops announce the release of their new album” Back To Rosetta Rd”, a follow-up to 2006’s “Cattlestoppin’” which one critic described as “one of the best 10 NZ country albums ever.” “Back To Rosetta Rd” contains 12 new original songs written by bass player James Cameron and guitarist Andrew London.

“It wasn’t until we’d pretty much finished it that we noticed that most of the songs’ themes centre around travelling away from, or returning home” says drummer Evan Williams. Maybe that’s what should be expected from a Kapiti Coast-based band that travels continuously up and down State Highway One to and from gigs in Wellington and further North. Cameron’s evocative title track “Back To Rosetta Rd” is a direct reference to his Raumati home – a central point on the Coast where the band frequently gathers to rehearse – with a wry dig at the transport authorities who prevaricate over finding a solution to the frequent delays. Raumati features again in guitarist Andrew London’s “Raumati Rag” instrumental – and proof that State Highway One looms large in both songwriters’ consciousness’ is apparent in London’s rocky “Country Sedan”.

The band’s diverse influences become apparent in violinist Colleen’ Trenwith’s contributions to the Celtic-tinged “Emily Bay” (a fictional account of a Norfolk Island Convict) and the bluegrass-flavoured “I Don’t Recognise This Neighbourhood” which decries the homogenisation of small town New Zealand by the large retail chain stores.

Cameron’s experience in the jazz idiom gets full reign in “It Just Happens….”, a touching tribute to Green Party politician Rod Donald; and the infectious “Damn That Cattlestop!” which allows the band a momentary return to their favoured Western Swing roots.

Drummer Evan “Donny Ruckus” Williams is equally at home swishing brushes or flailing sticks – even applying an Irish-sounding Bodhran effect to “Emily Bay” which hauntingly evokes the colonial period.

Lead guitarist Dave “Dogs” Berry is everywhere, lending infectious riffs and spine-tingling solos to "Country Sedan"”, "Someone Been Pickin’ on Me Blues”, and especially the funky “Can’t Buy a Piece of My Love”. Dogs’ reputation as Wellington’s “King of Tone” is done no harm on this album – these sounds will conjure up flashbacks to the time when the electric guitar ruled unchallenged.


The Cattlestops have been playing all over the lower North Island since forming in 2004, have appeared on national television and radio shows and are booked for gigs in the South Island and Norfolk Island in 2007.