Album Review Orville Peck - Bronco

“You know, I recall somebody saying there ain’t any cowboys left, they ain’t met me,” croons Orville Peck on ‘Lafayette’. And when he first emerged back in 2019 with debut ‘Pony’, perhaps the singer’s pop-infused country inspired by the genre’s greats - not to mention his constantly masked appearance - was indeed something of an unexpected surprise. Now a household name, however, ‘Bronco’ arrives to prove why this cowboy is gonna be sticking around for a long time. Inspired by “writing in isolation and going through and ultimately emerging from a challenging personal time,” ‘Bronco’ flits between theatricality and poignancy, almost every song sounding like it could score a Western’s pivotal moment with ease. Helmed by the singer’s powerhouse vocals, it’s impossible not to be drawn in throughout the album’s 15 country-rock-song run as he recounts tales of facing hardships (‘The Curse Of The Blackened Eye’, ‘Let Me Drown’) and the trials of love (‘City of Gold’, ‘Blush’) throwing in lighter moments with iconic lines like ‘Outta Times’’: “She tells me she don’t like Elvis, I say a little less conversation please.” Saddle up and get ready for an emotional and exciting journey.