06/10/2025
Maurice Hope review of Libby Koch and Michael O'Connor 'Gulf Coast Duets'.
Libby Koch & Michael O'Connor - Gulf Coast Duets (Coastal Bend Records)
www.libbykoch.com
https://mocmusic.com
Here is a first, a duet record from Texans Libby Koch and Michael O’Connor. Houston native, Koch and Corpus Christi’s O’Connor are both known for their honesty, musical nous, ability to write good songs and deliver them. Gulf Coast Duets came about after Grammy Winning producer, John Macy heard them talking about trying to write an old country duet together sometime. He invited them to his Coastal Bend Studios in Rockport, to write and record, the result wan’t them writing ‘one song’, but record an entire album.
Made up of ten tracks, eight featuring them in one shape of form as writers. Added to this are two carefully selected, and most suitable covers. Guy Clark and Verlon Thompson’s Boats To Build and Nanci Griffith’s (likewise) much thought of Gulf Coast Highway. A co-wrote with, Danny Flowers and James Ho**er who played and sang on Griffith’s original record. It’s a moving affair. The imagery, the ghostly feel and marrying of voices amidst spare acoustic guitar and tasteful pedal steel is top notch. Their voices rise and fall in unison. You’ll go far to find a better version.
As for Boats To Build they edge, seamlessly through the classic tune. Warmed in rolling Oahu guitar (Jeff Plankenhorn) and other guitar entries their voices blend seamlessly.
O’Connor’s rusty, lived in vocals remind me in a hugely positive way of Michael Martin Murphy.
Compelling co-writes Wrecked (it cuts to the bone), haunting ballad Too Late and lively Ain’t Gonna Stop Me (plus they wrote, album closer Having A Ball). The latter has Koch and O’Connor spar in style. Stronger than on any other track. It bounces along with the help of pedal steel guitar like a trusty old work truck on a dirt farm road.
O’Connor has slipped under far too many people’s radar, fact. “Part of the same Lone Star constellation as such Texas legends as Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, and the late Doug Sahm and Freddy Fender”, spoke Richard Skanse on Michael O’Connor’s induction into the South Texas Music Walk Of Fame. Praise for the stellar guitarist/ fine songwriter doesn’t stop there. As noted fellow recording act, Rod Picott offers; “Michael O;Connor is well acknowledged as a great guitarist, but you should listen to his songs as well. He writes beautifully, authentically and comes by that gritty gravel road of a voice honestly.”.
Bernadine opens the album, O’Connor’s co-write with noteworthy, fellow act Adam Carroll. It trawls the ocean floor as images of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast welcome the listener to join the duo. Country rock, singer-songwriter fare of the 1970s era primed and refined to perfection.
Koch’s melancholy You Again adds variation as it echoes some beautiful jazz flavours. In Another Time And Place (Gabriel Rhodes, O’Connor) has them ease along to pedal steel, and gentle guitar tones. Dreamy fashion. Both are sleepers. Koch solo performance on the former soon has the listener hanging on to every nuance. In likewise manner to how O’Connor guides them through the above noted, Boats To Build. Koch playing a fine supporting role.
Too Late is a gentle, guitar strummed affair. O’Connor’s husky tones set the scene, when he is in this groove he turns heads flavour. Koch for her part she sings a superb solo as well as her deft harmony parts. It has them back sparring with great verve. As a result the music hits another level.
Playing ode, Having A Ball oozes quality. Steeped in feel good vibes, and snappy picking the duo speak of enjoying life to the full. Acoustic guitar and pedal steel guitar gives the vocals a splendid base.
One More song has a beautiful inviting swagger. Written by O’Connor and Barbara Nesbitt it speaks, ’One more song before I go, one more song to soothe my soul, I could live on one more song’, highlighted by tempered Oahu guitar from Plankenhorn it soars. I just love the vocal exchanges. One of their best combinations. Let’s hope there will be a follow up; and soon!
Maurice Hope
