There are plenty of British bands who have tried to take inspiration from the emotions and expansiveness of Americana but end up losing their own identity in the process. Not so for Exeter’s Count To Fire. Playing original songs influenced by both early country and contemporary rock music the band have trod their own musical path. Formed out of a meeting in a record shop in 2006 and fast becoming Devon favourites, the band’s early work drew wide acclaim for the quality of their song writing. Their first recordings caught the ear of a celebrated Canadian producer and they were invited across the pond in 2010 to record their anthemic second album. The alt-country sound of guitars, violins and pedal steel matched with the group’s obvious Englishness proved a hit and earned them great critical acclaim for their original and organic approach. This included BBC radio play, reviews in the likes of Uncut magazine & even 5 stars from the News of The World! Obvious comparisons to folk-rockers Mumford & Sons abound but this is country, not folk, more “refreshing and cutthroat”. Coming alive on stage the band leapt into a hectic gig schedule culminating in a series of high-profile festival appearances playing to packed out crowds in the summer of 2011. Fast forward a few years and the band have all experienced some life turns and lessons, some with new relationships, some with new children and all with new homes. Cutting back on lives shows they returned to their roots, choosing to record at Exeter’s boutique Valvetastic Studios, the site of their very first album. Working closely over two years with the ever stalwart owner & producer Joe Holroyd, band members visited, usually one at a time, to gradually lay down parts and build up an extraordinary collection of songs. Seeped in pathos and with space to breath there is a quiet strength to these recordings which are rich in vocal harmonies and are driven once more with gripping song writing planted firmly in the fore. With an album release planned for December, over the coming months the band are preparing a series a special events and performances; proving Count To Fire remain a musical force to be reckoned with. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.