Ursula: Living the Dream (A Hard Life on the Road).

The likening of poor musicians to brilliant early experimentalists like Captain Beefheart or Gong, by slack reviewers (or the bands themselves) is an irritating trend; and sure enough, Ursula have been described as “Capitan (sic) Beefheart meets Billie Holiday”... neither comparison is at all relevant. In fact Lara, of Ursula, has a wonderfully blunt voice not unlike Penny Seeger's working with Ewan MacColl, take that political folk style, and a bit of 'Sea of Cheese' era Primus swash-buckle, and there's a plausible comparison. Of course, Nathan, the other half of the core of Ursula, can't come close MacColl's sonorous vocal, but at least he sounds honest and unaffected.

The CD Dancing On The Ruins, recorded Nathan told me, in one evening, on a 4-track amid increasing frivolity, captures Ursula's charm and honesty perfectly. Since it was recorded the duo have written more songs in the same vein. It would be fascinating to hear them recorded well while keeping minimal production, just as it would be marvelous to have Nick Cave cover a few of Ursula's songs; Eat Your Lover, for instance - a song about love's culmination reaching the stage where one has to eat the other.

Their music (Lara plays accordion, Nathan Banjo) is patchy and occasionally mistimed, yet remains charming, sincere and bolstered by several really good songs (Lara also said it's 'better' & 'more fun' when the other band members - who hadn't caught up yet - played, adding drums and violin).

Lara, from the USA, is a runaway, she met Nathan, a Canadian, in Edmonton, they put Ursula together and travelled, often hitchhiking across the continent in 2007, playing wherever they could. This tour they've moved up a notch, with a dog called Stella plus a roadie in the back seat and instruments in a container atop the station wagon. Their songs either reflect their traveling life or their view that society is off course. Common themes, overworked themes... but this is their strength - they deliver witty, cutting and even lilting reflective songs, with simple sincerity.

Q&Eh?: How many swans do you recommend per bathtub?
Lara: Twelve at least, any less and it would be an empty tub, well... if you ask me ridiculous questions, I'll give you ridiculous answers.

Q&Eh?: What do you always forget when you go on tour.
Lara: My Toothbrush! I forget it, get another, lose that, and have to get another.

Q&Eh?: What's the best gig you've ever been to?
Lara: Oh but there are so many...  ... ...
Q&Eh?: Pick one.
Lara: OK - it was in Minneapolis - The Danger Boys, who are an inspiration to me, pretty much the biggest influence on my life.

Q&Eh?: your band's name is Ursula - why is that?
Lara: There really is no answer to your question. The name came to me in a dream. We are a band of dreamers i guess.

Q&Eh?: Surprise or anticipation?
Lara: Anticipation. I like something to look forward to. Yes, It's important in life.

Q&Eh?: And what are you aspiring to? What's the dream?
Lara: Exactly what I'm doing now. Touring meeting people, people are nice and kind.
Stella loves it too.
And we're getting married next May, then we're intending to go to Europe and tour, we get a lot of interest from Europe. (Nathan is Canadian, from Vancouver, the island, and the Canadian govt. actually sponsors band's travel for touring, paying rental cars, accommodation etc.)
Q&Eh?: So you have plenty to anticipate

Take 'When the Yuppie's Grass Grows Tall', which seems to have presaged the housing market crisis, on which they sing about happier times where everyone will grow their own food and live real lives... they are usually optimistic, often whimsical and sometimes vengeful. And Ursula have another, deeper dimension - the aptly named 'Runaway' travels much like the view from a train window; Lara sings of leaving behind a bad situation while being comforted by companionship: "Come on, let's run away again, I've got some people to hide from, it seems no matter where I am now they're always right there beside me, but so are you my faithful loving friend, how grateful I am for you."

The whole song is worth printing, but I leave you to discover it one day as Ursula pass you by, living the dream on the road.