In loving memory of our co-founder, Darren Beech (4/08/1967 to 25/03/2021)

Tag: Lachlan Bryan

THE PLEASURES – Enemy Of My Enemy (Über Savvy Music/MGM)

Enemy Of My EnemyThe Pleasures are “Aussie musical playmates” Catherine Britt and Lachlan Bryan, supported by Brad Bergen and Damian Cafarella on drums and bass respectively. Enemy Of My Enemy, to be released on August 15 2025, is their second album since the band was formed in 2022.

Catherine Britt, as well as recording with Elton John, has impeccable country credentials, having been signed to RCA in Nashville and toured with Dolly Parton, among others. Lachlan Bryan is an alumnus of the Melbourne rock’n’roll and alt-country scene but has toured widely in the US and UK. Though they come from different corners of the Americana universe, their combined music captures a range of subgenres from fairly traditional country to country rock with a blue tinge, and even a couple of tracks at the folk-ish end of country. Britt’s vocals range effortlessly across genres and blend pleasingly with Bryan’s.

Here’s my customary track-by-track summary.

  1. ‘Enemy Of My Enemy’ has a simple but effective guitar riff (as most of these tracks do) and harmony vocals.
  2. ‘Was It Something I Said’ was apparently written under informal circumstances in Nashville, and it has already been released as a single.
  3. ‘Where The Money Goes’ reminds me a little of Jesse Stone’s ‘Money, Honey’, in places: given the somewhat similar lyrical theme and the sense of fun that seems to characterize the band, I suspect that the slight resemblance might not be accidental. I rather enjoyed the contrast between the simple banjo (played by Bergen and Cafarella) and the overdriven guitar, too.
  4. ‘Step Away’ has a more traditional country feel, enhanced by acoustic guitar and Tommy Detamore’s pedal steel.
  5. ‘Wild Things’ is a gritty, delirious speed trip that owes more to ‘Too Much Monkey Business’ or ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ than to the Troggs. I like it a lot, but if you’re triggered by rude words, you might not.
  6. ‘It’s OK (I Knew What You Meant)’ is a gentler acoustic folk/country song. Very nice.
  7. ‘Let’s Go Again’ picks up the pace with more of a pop vibe, despite some Duane Eddyish low-end guitar – a baritone guitar, maybe, or just slightly detuned?
  8. ‘This might Hurt A Little Bit’ has a descending organ bridge reminiscent of the Spencer Davis hit ‘I’m A Man’, but holds its own against the many other songs to use that hook.
  9. ‘The Rules’ is a slow song with the occasional daring harmony (it jarred on me at first, but it does fit the theme.
  10. ‘Love Relapse’ is a Yardbirds-ish riff-heavy morsel of slow rock that gets very heavy indeed in the final bars.
  11. ‘Good People’ is a one-take track with some overdubbed piano and guitar, taking a total of forty-five minutes out of the band’s lives. Forty-five minutes well spent, I’d say.
  12. The notes describe ‘We’re All A Little Blue’ as “seen through a 70s folky singer-songwriter lens.” I’m not sure about its folky credentials, but it’s a very pleasing ballad.

Enemy Of My Enemy is a fun record. The vocal harmonies and the range of genres might remind you of the pairing of Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, wrapped around some very sharp lyric writing and ear-catching arrangements. I wouldn’t, frankly, call it a folk record, but if you’re not averse to a little humour in your country rock, you’re likely to enjoy this.

David Harley

Artists’ website: thepleasuresmusic.com/home

‘Was It Something I Said?’ – official video: