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Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent
@jeremydwilliams
6:00 AM 29th May 2020
arts

Steady Habits - Hold In Your Breath

 
Steady Habits are the side project of Loud Mountains' Sean Duggan. Having achieved critical acclaim alongside his brother, the Oxford based American has teamed up with a group of good friends (who are also solid musicians) to venture into a new terrain. Alas, not completely new terrain, for the folk-country sound of Loud Mountains is echoed within the output of Steady Habits, but there is certainly a different edge.

As the quintet reveal their debut EP, Hold In Your Breath, they show that their sound is less of the old school playful Americana groove that Loud Mountains excelled at, but rather a more introverted exploration of the good old Country ballad.

While the latter represents two-thirds of the EP, what is worth mentioning is that the middle song, Borrowed Time, feels distinctly like a Loud Mountains moment. This is no bad thing, for the song is impressive and will easily carry you away with its inescapable bouncing charm.

However, it is in the balladry that the EP has its heart and while the title track is loaded with appeal, it is actually in the EP closer, Edge of Changing, that Steady Habits show that they have something really special to offer.

Although the collection is brief, it shows a range in the group's abilities and acts as a strong, solid introduction.