Hey Negrita are a transatlantic (literally) roots-rock band - and as well as straddling continents (members hailing from America and the UK) they straddle genres: a bit Americana, a bit country, a bit rock ‘n’ roll. They have a reputation for raucous live shows including support slots with fellow hell-raisers Alabama 3. After touring their third album in 2008 the band decided to slow things down so they shut themselves in a studio and recorded the stripped-down, acoustic album “Burn The Whole Place Down” and 'One Mississippi,' originally on their 2005 album “We Are Catfish,” is the taster for that October release.

The original was a soft-shuffle roots number given a driving forward momentum by dramatic piano chords and occasional rolling drums. Obviously in this instance all of this is lost but it keeps the Ry Cooder-esque slide guitar breaks. It’s a road song suggesting restlessness, roaming and possibly even escape: refrain: “I’m running down the road apace” with the ‘One Mississippi’ of the title used to count the passing yards and miles. Acoustically it loses a little drama but gains a slight rawness in this new version. It feels more like a demo, and I think this is definitely what the band wanted - a sense of spontaneity and intimacy. The acoustic version of 'One Mississippi' is also a bit underwhelming in isolation – despite – or maybe because of - being pleasant, likeable and totally hummable.

I can see this single and subsequent album pleasing fans and also appealing to a wider audience – but on the basis of one single it’s difficult to tell for certain.