Since she made her UK debut back in 2018, Tenille Townes has become one of the most frequent visitors here from the country music scene – and one of the most loved, winning over audiences with her unique vocals and raw, honest lyrics. After her most recent trip in Country Music Week 2022 and the release of her EP ‘Masquerades’ – almost a year ago to the day – now she’s back with her latest project, ‘Train Track Worktapes’, recorded on a 15 day charity train journey across her native Canada.
The five-song EP kicks off with ‘Home To Me’, a song about finding your place in the world no matter where you are. It opens with a train whistle, placing you right in the heart of the improvised music studio Townes and her band set up on their trip, and its bright, steady melody perfectly mimics the chug of the train. The touch of gravel in Townes’ vocals really balances her delicate tones as well as her smooth delivery on the chorus, and I loved the warmth in the lyrics (‘home is not a place, it’s a feeling’) and her detailed observations on the likes of ‘treasure troves of truck stop lines’ and describing herself as ‘a tennis ball of nerves’. It really captures that energy of being on the road and makes the whole project feel completely organic.
The travel theme is continued elsewhere on the EP with the likes of ‘Pieces Of My Heart’, a mellow acoustic number that picks up from a soft opening into a rollicking chorus with big soaring notes (I can already see this as a show-closing singalong moment at Townes’ live shows) and a twangy outro. Elsewhere, the sunny, upbeat ‘Coming Together’ sees Townes reflecting on the power of music to bring people together – something she did as a key part of the journey which inspired the EP – and her love of map dot towns and venturing into the unknown. I also loved her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s classic ‘Landslide’, which had a sparse, raw feel about it even down to the breathiness of Townes’ delivery. Even though it’s very subdued, you can really sense the yearning in her voice and it’s a perfect Sunday morning song.
Townes closes the EP with ‘Wheels’, which for me is the standout track on the project. It comes full circle with the layering of the train effect underneath, and the atmospheric downbeat melody provides a stark contrast to much of what’s come before – you really feel that sense of travelling through the dark late at night whilst battling with one’s demons. There’s a beautiful plaintive, bittersweet quality to Townes’ voice as she sings the lyrics about the importance of keeping going, before picking up into some huge notes towards the end, and the repetitive chorus echoes back to that theme of being on the road. It’s a song that lingers and will no doubt stay with me for a long time afterwards.
Overall ‘Train Track Worktapes’ is a very strong piece of work that highlights Townes’s skill to not only take a theme and run with it, but also to build a world that’s completely immersive. Her standout vocals, musical ingenuity and excellent lyrical skills have all added up to build a project that draws you in and doesn’t let you go, whilst also taking you on a journey, both figuratively and literally. I’m really excited to hear these songs live soon – hopefully when she’s back in the UK in August for The Long Road Festival – and can’t wait to see where she goes from here.
Track listing: 1. Home To Me 2. Pieces Of My Heart 3. Landslide 4. Coming Together 5. Wheels Record label: Sony Music Entertainment Release date: 21st April 2023
