Indian Ocean

Indian Ocean was first released in 2014, following a transformative invitation by filmmaker Robert Gordon to record at Royal Studios in Memphis, home of Al Green and producer Willie Mitchell. As Frazey Ford (an original member of The Be Good Tanyas) flew out to Memphis, she discovered that the invitation included the chance to play and record with Al Green’s band, The Hi Rhythm Section. Ford’s disbelief at this turn of events is palpable, her songs shimmer with Memphis organ and linger on her unforgettable vocal turns, especially on the title-track, where the refrain builds and recedes in waves. This reissue a decade later includes, in its digital edition, three covers: Ann Peebles’ ‘Trouble, Heartaches & Sadness’, Van Morrison’s ‘Crazy Love’ and Otis Redding’s ‘The Happy Song (Dum-Dum)’, originally used as warm-ups before true collaboration got underway. The swagger of the latter, in particular, is joyous.