Twilight Hotel

Review- Maverick Magazine April 2011

4 stars

Varying musical styles help make this an intriguing and
enjoyable album

Twilight Hotel is a duo comprising Brandy Zdan (vocals, lap steel, electric guitar, accordion) and Dave Quanbury (vocals, electric, acoustic and baritone guitar, piano, mountain dulcimer, ukulele) and they are joined on this album by the rhythm section of Stephen Hodges (drums) and Jeff Turmes (bass, banjo, saxophone) plus John Whynot (keyboards) and Andrew Lynch (flugal horn). The duo have been together musically for eight years and have now moved from Winnipeg in Canada to Austin, Texas.

It is difficult to pigeon-hole their music as the pensive The Darkness is a very
haunting track with Brandy’s soaring, soulful vocals a real treat, accompanied by
brooding horn and banjo with scything baritone guitar and seductive saxophone
cutting through the darkness. Ham Radio Blues picks up the beat with Dave on main
vocals with Brandy adding harmonies, whilst still retaining that heavy mood. Then
What Do I Know About Love? is a quite superb slow gypsy folk tune with Brandy
seducing the listener with her sultry vocals alongside some wonderful accordion and
saxophone sounds. Maverick’s Americana fans should really enjoy Twilight Hotel, also
look out for a UK tour. David Knowles