Alberta Cross “The Thief & The Heartbreaker (Re-Imagined)”

2007 album of Americana-tinged demos originally issued on EP re-worked and re-imagined

Alberta Cross were originally formed in London by singer and keyboard player Petter Ericson Stakee who hails from Upsala in Sweden and London bass player Terry Wolfers. 

Originally recorded as demos in October 2007 their Americana-tinged indie sound created a solid fan base in Europe and the USA. Petter describes recording the demos as “One of the most exciting times I’ve had as a songwriter. “Wherever I play in the world, I still have to play them”.

The demos were originally recorded in Wolfers’ home studio in Waltham Forest. In 2008 they decided to re-locate to New York and had success supporting Mumford & Sons, Neil Young and Them Crooked Vultures and appearing on US TV on The Late Show with David Letterman; ’Low Man’ was featured in an episode of on Sons Of Anarchy, whilst ‘Lucy Rider’ was used in the BBC’s ‘Survivors’. Wolfers left the band in 2013.

The original demos have now been ‘re-imagined’ adding musical collaborations from friends and re-recorded in Frome, Somerset, at Ethan John and Dom Monks’ Bert Jansch Studio, self-produced by Stakee, and mastered at the Abbey Road Studios.

Guests include personal favourite Dylan LeBlanc on ‘Devil’s All You Ever Had’; Southampton’s Band of Skulls on ’The Thief And The Heartbreaker’, singer/songwriter’s Jack Savoretti on ‘Old Man Chicago’ and Katie Melua on ‘Lucy Rider’ Their in demand anthem ‘Hard Breaks’ features singer/songwriters – US artist Joseph Arthur and Canadian indie artist Dan Mangan. 

Mangan recalls playing with the band at a London pub The Slaughtered Lamb: “There were probably a few dozen people there. They were loud and fast and wild. Over the years, we kept crossing paths at festivals and the stages gradually got bigger for both of us. I was thrilled to sing on ‘Hard Breaks’ because it reminded me of being in my mid 20s and wanting to be Jack Kerouac”. 

‘Low Man’ features Ed Harcourt and Starsailor’s James Walsh appears on ‘I’ve Known For So Long’ and for good measure there is an additional track ‘Its You That’s Changing’ featuring New York’s Arum Rae.

A re-imagined set of superb songs, quality guest artists and classy production works really well. Check it out.