Album Review: Saltwater Hank, G̱al'üünx Wil Lu Holtga Liimi
Saltwater Hank is a Ts'msyen musician hailing from British Columbia. After releasing a quartet of EPs entitled That's Not How Tommy Played it (Volumes 1-4) in 2020-21, the musician born Jeremy Pahl has released an interesting album recorded entirely in Ts'msyen, an Indigenous language his bio states has no "first generation speakers left under the age of 60." So, while a huge onus is on Saltwater Hank is to make the music and language meld, he does it in an even-handed, inviting way.
After a short "Uks Yaan Ḵ’a̱sḵ’oos," Saltwater Hank brings plenty of outlaw country to the mix with "Ba' wis," a murky electric guitar-tinged tune which bubbles under the surface before hitting paydirt in the bridge. Meanwhile plenty of honky-tonk oozes from "Dm Yootu Stukwliin" which has the singer discussing BBQing rabbits on a university campus.
Although two of the nine efforts are rather brief, the highlights include the waltzy "Waaba Gwa̱soo" and the rockabilly-laced "Ndo'o Yaan" with some fine lap steel off in the distance. And Saltwater Hank becomes Luke The Drifter with a re-imagination of Hank Williams Sr.'s "My Sweet Love Ain't Around" during "Akadi K’uł Waal Nsiip’nsgu." His elders would be very proud.
G̱al'üünx Wil Lu Holtga Liimi was released July 1, 2023.
Listen to it here.
The album features two songs in Omushkegowuk Cree, marking the first time Sutherland is making music in his mother tongue.