Performing under the name Hogie, I've written many songs - a few of which I've recorded. My 'Folk From The Smoke' EP was recorded in Liverpool in 2011, with Mike Badger producing.
My album, 'River Of Mercy', produced by Kenny Dickenson, was recorded in London in 2016.
Review of River Of Mercy from americanrootsuk.com
There is a warm comforting atmosphere to this quite addictive and melodic album of twenty first century country music. The whole thing oozes confidence on a recording that stylistically harks back to the 1950s, remarkable really, because not only is this his debut album, but Hogie is an Englishman from Warrington. His name is actually Tim 'Hogie' Higgins and not only is he an excellent songwriter but he is blessed with an appealingly melodic vocal style, a little reminiscent at times of an artist such as Chris Isaak.
There is excellent support from Kenny Dickenson, who produced and played piano and bass as well as backing vocals, CJ Hillman is on guitars and pedal steel, Luke Bullen on drums and percussion and Hogie himself on lead vocals and guitar. The harmonies are always way above average as is the sympathetic playing from all concerned on these twelve beautifully written Tim Higgins originals.
The album gets off to a promisong start with Devil's Got His Work To Do with its classic 'country' instrumentation including a weeping steel guitar that is quite dominant before Hogie comes in with his warm vocal on a melodic easy going song despite its deceptively quite dark lyrics. Ballad Of Santa Muerte is as near a perfect example of updated classic country music as you could wish for with a lovely twangy guitar, percussion that can almost be described as melodic and mariachi horns allowing Hogie's warm expressive vocals to perfectly evoke a sad 'country and western' tale. Hogie's melodic vocal links well with the melodicism of an easy rolling country song that tells an entertaining story on River Of Mercy, with an arrangement that works beautifully and harmonies that enhance the easy rolling nature of the song as does the occasional dobro on this excellent title track. Think Of Me is a sad mournful ballad of lost love with lovely melodic guitar and steel for company with piano, violin and cello adding depth to the mournful nature of the song. The lyrics are a variation on the self pitying 'love lost because of my bad ways' songs but the atmospheric arrangement lifts it above much of the 'competition.' Finally, the last track on the album gets under way with just Hogie's lead vocal, with acoustic guitar and mandolin providing a little company on another excellent song. Eventually the instrumentation fills out the tale with violin, cello, harmonium and lovely harmonies on the chorus giving the song an atmosphere that may have been generated in an old western movie with perhaps Rick Nelson on vocals.
Musically it seems to me Hogie is well suited to this soft melodic country music with his warm comforting vocals, natural easy going charm, well written songs and excellent arrangements that enhance the melodicism making several of the songs virtual 'ear worms.' It is not a style that usually appeals to me but everything about this album is so strong that I have no fears about coming back to it again and again knowing it's often dramatic songs and the overall warmth and melodicism will wrap itself around me! Buy it and you can expect it to do the same to you.
There is excellent support from Kenny Dickenson, who produced and played piano and bass as well as backing vocals, CJ Hillman is on guitars and pedal steel, Luke Bullen on drums and percussion and Hogie himself on lead vocals and guitar. The harmonies are always way above average as is the sympathetic playing from all concerned on these twelve beautifully written Tim Higgins originals.
The album gets off to a promisong start with Devil's Got His Work To Do with its classic 'country' instrumentation including a weeping steel guitar that is quite dominant before Hogie comes in with his warm vocal on a melodic easy going song despite its deceptively quite dark lyrics. Ballad Of Santa Muerte is as near a perfect example of updated classic country music as you could wish for with a lovely twangy guitar, percussion that can almost be described as melodic and mariachi horns allowing Hogie's warm expressive vocals to perfectly evoke a sad 'country and western' tale. Hogie's melodic vocal links well with the melodicism of an easy rolling country song that tells an entertaining story on River Of Mercy, with an arrangement that works beautifully and harmonies that enhance the easy rolling nature of the song as does the occasional dobro on this excellent title track. Think Of Me is a sad mournful ballad of lost love with lovely melodic guitar and steel for company with piano, violin and cello adding depth to the mournful nature of the song. The lyrics are a variation on the self pitying 'love lost because of my bad ways' songs but the atmospheric arrangement lifts it above much of the 'competition.' Finally, the last track on the album gets under way with just Hogie's lead vocal, with acoustic guitar and mandolin providing a little company on another excellent song. Eventually the instrumentation fills out the tale with violin, cello, harmonium and lovely harmonies on the chorus giving the song an atmosphere that may have been generated in an old western movie with perhaps Rick Nelson on vocals.
Musically it seems to me Hogie is well suited to this soft melodic country music with his warm comforting vocals, natural easy going charm, well written songs and excellent arrangements that enhance the melodicism making several of the songs virtual 'ear worms.' It is not a style that usually appeals to me but everything about this album is so strong that I have no fears about coming back to it again and again knowing it's often dramatic songs and the overall warmth and melodicism will wrap itself around me! Buy it and you can expect it to do the same to you.
Lockdown Summerhouse Sessions 2020