Album Of The Week

"Son Of The Velvet Rat celebrates the release of their new album 'Solitary Company'. The album will debut internationally on March 19th, 2021, released by Fluff & Gravy Records."

- Kenneth Bremer / Blue Desert -

"There has always been a cinematic aspect to the music of Son Of The Velvet Rat and never more so than on 'Solitary Company'. With lyrical content that enhance the mystery behind the songs, this striking album will particularly appeal to fans of Howe Gelb and Bonnie Prince Billy."

- Declan Culliton / Lonesome Highway -

"In general, for all the atmosphere of eerie decadence that ripples through 'Solitary Company', water lilies that wither and die, bloodstains on the bedframe, skeletons taking your hand as you climb on the Ferris Wheel, miles underground, there’s an elegant, slightly mischievous, musical power and charm steering this album, that keeps it firmly in the heights."

- Alasdair Fotheringham / Americana UK -

"All in all, 'Solitary Company' deserves a listen from anyone interested in a kaleidoscopic immersion into Americana’s hinterlands."

- Paul Kerr / Blabber & Smoke -

"Son Of The Velvet Rat, a masked identity for Georg Altziebler and Heike Binder, take familiar ideas and imagery, with unusual lyrics, great players and Altziebler's voice finding original things to say in what could have been ordinary in the hands of others."

- Marc Higgins / Fatea Magazine -

"Redolent of the stark beauty of their Mojave home, this is Son Of The Velvet Rat's finest album yet, an album of the year, Austrian or otherwise."

- Mike Davies / Folk Radio UK -

"Whatever the medium, creative art is about capturing some image, some quality, some thought and reflecting it through your own unique skill whether that be a painting, a novel or music. When you capture it well, the listener, or reader or viewer, knows that the work is uniquely that of a particular creative person, a particular creative voice. 4 seconds into 'Alicia' the 1st track on 'Solitary Company', I knew I could only be listening to Son Of The Velvet Rat. 43 minutes and 10 tracks later, I was still there. Artistically, that’s no mean feat. It’s no surprise that I gather the Californian music scene holds them in increasingly high regard."

- Mike Wistow / Folking -

"This Austrian couple, who now live on the edges of Joshua Tree, are firm favourites here at The Rocking Magpie headquarter. Thank you all, and most of all, thank you Georg and Heike."

- Alan Harrison / The Rocking Magpie -

"Ten albums deep into their musical journey, the marriage duo of Georg Altziebler and Heike Binder have produced yet another engrossing dive into the dusty backroads of their adoptive country."

- Simon Rowland / R2 Rock'N'Reel Magazine -

"Son Of The Velvet Rat is the musical endeavor of Georg Altziebler and Heike Binder, having left Austria's Graz for California’s Joshua Tree. Their songs build on old world cabaret traditions, fused with the old testament prophecy conjured by new world visionaries Van Zandt or Dylan."

- Tom Keller / Folk World -

"This is a quality record for sure and highly recommended to fans of Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan or Tom Waits."

- Gabor Kleinbloesem / Strutterzine -

"Don’t take the lyrics of Georg Altziebler for granted. With few words he tells a whole personal story. If you love Townes Van Zandt, Bob Dylan or Tom Waits, Georg Altziebler follows in their footsteps."

- Marino Serdons / Keys & Chords -

"Folk noir band Son Of The Velvet Rat consists of Austrian husband and wife duo Georg Altziebler and Heike Binder. In 2013 they decided to move to Joshua Tree in California where they found producer Joe Henry ready to help them out with their wonderful record 'Dorado' in 2017. Now they are releasing a new record called 'Solitary Company' with 10 songs that will aim to touch you in the core of your heart. Please don’t forget to let them break through on the international scene and allow them to come and play all their great songs for us in the European countries."

- Valére Sampermans / Rootstime -

"Son Of The Velvet Rat's 'Solitary Company' is an album full of so called sophisticated orchestration."

- Branimir Lokner / Time Machine Music -