Broderick Smith has been homing in on this unique territory for nearly 50 years. He staked his first claims with seminal Melbourne blues/ roots outfits Carson and The Dingoes. Not that his journey began there by any means. But in a sense, Unknown Country is where it was always heading. Smith’s masterful voice is but one key ingredient to his tenth solo album. His longstanding lap steel accomplice and co-writer Matt Walker to his right, guitarist Shannon “The Assassin” Bourne to his left, Unknown Country brings a new combination of passion, depth and texture to Australian roots music. Drummer Laurie Ernst is another veteran of Smith’s floating combo, The Guild. American keyboard player Garth Hudson (The Band) is an older colleague, going back to the Dingoes’ late ‘70s residency in San Franciso. Bassist Grant Cummerford, celtic harp player Andrew Rigby and engineer/ keyboard player David Manton complete a lean, empathetic line-up.
