Wobbler

Dwellers Of The Deep

Karisma, 2020

8/10

Listen to Dwellers Of The Deep

The long running outfit Wobbler continue their unclassifiable ways with this 4 song record, where their inimitable formula is certainly rooted in prog-rock, while also touching on the sounds of the ‘70s amid their dynamic chemistry.

“By The Banks” starts the listen and makes a strong impression with a busy display of bouncy bass lines, playful keys and soaring vocals alongside a very lush setting that’s indebted to both classic and prog-rock, and “Five Rooms” follows with darker textures that abruptly shifts into a quick pace of proficient drumming and calculated strings that occasionally dips into calmer ebbs.

The back half of the listen leads with the warm acoustic guitar of “Naiad Dreams”, where expressive singing complements the dreamy storytelling, and “Merry Macabre” exits the listen with 19 minutes of song craft that’s packed with louder swells of symphonic rock as well as bare moments filled with vocal harmonies

Wobbler sure do make the most out of the 40+ minutes here, where psychedelic, retro-rock and powerful landscapes flow with an ominous quality, wordless vocals and much intrigue on this 5th album from one of Norway’s best.

Travels well with: Meer- Playing House; Jethro Tull- Stand Up

Meer

Playing House

Karisma, 2021

9/10

Listen to Playing House

An 8 piece outfit from Norway who reside somewhere between orchestral, symphonic and classical rock, Meer operate in a very unique spot with their progressive ideas that embrace melody, harmonies and plenty of unpredictable songwriting across these 11 tracks.

The fascinating album leads with “Picking Up The Pieces”, as inviting keys open and soaring strings, pretty vocals from Johanne Kippersund and a symphonic landscape follow, and “Beehive” continues the setting with prog-rock inspired song craft that’s both graceful and adventurous.

Closer to the middle, “Child” takes a soulful approach where plenty of nostalgic rock nods are present, while “You Were A Drum” makes great use of playful drumming by Mats Lillehaug amid charming vocal acrobatics. “Honey”, one of the album’s best, then mixes busy bouts with sparse moments in a climate that’s not short on melody and mature songwriting.

Deeper still, the firm “She Goes” then gets theatrical with Ole Gjostol’s pounding keys, but also retreats to bare mystery, and “Lay It Down” exits the listen with a majestic, gripping display of soaring chamber rock that we could never tire of.

Straddling both minimal moments with maximalist textures, Playing House is nothing if not unique, as Meer pen a sophomore album that impresses immensely and somehow still gets better with each subsequent listen.

Travels well with: Wobbler- Dwellers Of The Deep; De Press- Body Manifest

Jared Feinman

Love Is An Obstacle

West Of Philly, 2021

8/10

Listen to Love Is An Obstacle

I suppose we’re used to plenty of Valentine’s themed music this time of the year, but Jared Feinman goes the opposite direction with an anti-Valentine’s listen that just might break your heart with its themes of tragedy, loss and the downsides to life.

Split into ‘clusters’ inside of sides, the double album places like minded songs together in a very diverse formula. Tracks like the lush “Inside A Reverie” emit a hazy, dreamy quality while at its core being a brutal post-break up song, while others like the piano and horn friendly “The Sinner’s Last Song” recruit timeless jazz qualities in a setting that’s quite melancholic and very eloquent.

Though Feinman is the focus on all these original tracks, a gospel choir joins him on the intimate “(Let’s Sing For) Love And Be Free”, while “Some Final Thoughts” strips the climate bare with just strings accompanying his expressive pipes.

The best tune here, “88”, recruits harmonica fills that give the mature setting a bluesy angle, though “All My Life” is a close second, as Feinman sounds like a seasoned vet on the soaring and orchestral display of emotion and power.

An artist who performs with a sage like demeanor that’s wise beyond his years (he’s not even 30 yet), Feinman is nothing if not forthright, and this often devastating but well crafted debut is an excellent starting point.

Travels well with: Forest Sun- Stubborn Breathing Heart; Mark Erelli- Blindsided

Zixiang Wang

First Piano Sonatas

Blue Griffin, 2021

8/10

Listen to First Piano Sessions

An esteemed pianist who is no stranger to winning awards, Zixiang Wang tackles compositions by Alexander Scriabin and Sergei Rachmaninoff on this first solo album.

Scriabin’s “Piano Sonata No. 1 In F Minor, Op. 6” starts the listen with Wang’s rumbling keys in the 4 installments that vary from soft and bare to louder moments of lively beauty as Wang interprets the late romanticism selection with both grace and vigor.

Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Sonata No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 28” follows, and leads with calm mystery, where Wang’s key acrobatics flow with an adventurous and meticulous quality that retains the maturity of the original while putting his own inimitable stamp on the classic.

The final track, “Prelude In F Major”, also by Rachmaninoff, leads gentle and sublime, before highly intricate playing from Wang becomes so proficient, it hardly seems like just one piano is present.

An outstanding solo debut, Wang proves just why he’s been seeing worldwide praise as he turns in a glorious and mesmerizing effort here.

Travels well with: Jaap Nico Hamburger- Piano Concerto/Concerto Pour Piano; Beth Levin- Hammerklavier Live

Alpha Cat

Pearl Harbor 2020

Aquamarine, 2021

8/10

Listen to Pearl Harbor 2020

Elizabeth McCullough’s debut album as Alpha Cat, that was originally released in 2001, Pearl Harbor returns here in an expanded package, where 2 additional songs recorded in McCullough’s home in the mid ‘90s are included and appreciated.

The 15 track listen leads with “Something Of Value”, where playful bass work and a hypnotic jangle instantly draw the listener in alongside McCullough’s rugged yet tuneful singing, and “Once Upon A Time” follows with soaring backing vocals complementing the spirited guitar work as subtle brass enters a diverse formula.

The middle tracks offer us the slow and powerful “All Mine”, where much emotion weaves in and out of thick guitars and orchestral strings, while “Sometimes When I Wake” flows with breezy melodies amid some college rock grit. “Straw Hat” then takes the acoustic route with much beauty in McCullough’s eloquent, expressive delivery.

Deeper yet, “The Truth” offers a crunchy alt-rocker, and “Cling” carries a similar demeanor with its crashing drums and more raw direction. “Love With What You’ve Got…” finishes out the listen rhythmic, dynamic and with no shortage timeless songwriting from a very thoughtful mind and superb talent.

Even though Alpha Cat saw some modest success on the charts in the late ‘90s/early 2000’s and developed a devoted fanbase, Pearl Harbor was released right around the time 9/11 happened, and radio stations were hesitant to play the album.

Now, 20 years later, McCullough’s retro-rock nods (think Fleetwood Mac), and similarities to Beth Orton or Joseph Arthur sound better than ever, as her work has clearly aged well and is just as relevant today as it was in her heyday on this very welcomed reissue.

Travels well with: Beth Lee- Waiting On You Tonight; Jillette Johnson- It’s A Beautiful Day And I Love You

Grey DeLisle

Valentine

Regional, 2021

8/10

Listen to Valentine

The Grammy winning songstress Grey DeLisle brings us a romantic tune just in time for Valentine’s day, where Murry Hammond’s acoustic guitar and Greg Leisz’s pedal steel add much to Eric Gorfain’s strings.

Fueled by DeLisle’s sublime, expressive pipes, “Valentine” moves with bare but impactful instrumentation, where warm intimacy and much emotion is present amid a dreamy backdrop.

Originally performed by the Old 97’s and penned by Hammond, who is actually the ex-husband of DeLisle, this version moves a bit slower than the original, but is equally stirring and memorable. For the collector fanatics, the physical package of this even comes in a heart shaped card that’s signed by DeLisle.

Travels well with: Kelly Hogan- I Like To Keep Myself In Pain; Steve Earle & The Dukes- Ghosts Of West Virginia

Sonic Twist

Unity

Muse-Eek, 2021

8/10

Listen to Unity

The duo of Bruce Arnold and Judi Silvano, as Sonic Twist the pair are kind of jazz, sort of electronic and undeniably experimental as Unity is intimate, spontaneous and quite peculiar in all the best ways.

“A Ha” starts the album with vocal effects from Silvano as Arnold’s guitar provides ambience to the soft and adventurous opening, and “Capricious” follows with charming scatting from Silvano while warm guitar lines complement the landscape.

With 17 tracks included, there’s a lot to digest here, but the pair keep the scene diverse with the dreamy “Lacewing”, while “Hovercraft” nearly approaches sci-fi territory in its hypnotic execution. “Ha”, a particularly unusual track, is then full of vocal acrobatics amid a light buzzing that’s as playful as it is eccentric.

Deeper down the line, “Shaman’s Plane” adopts a futuristic quality alongside frisky supercollider effects from Arnold, and “Compression Expansion” exits the listen with curious echoing in a finish that seems like it could soundtrack a campfire in another dimension.

In an act of inventive marketing, Sonic Twist released a video for each song, providing a visual component to this very artistic and iconoclastic twist on jazz meets electro-rock that’s so daring, you can’t help but admire it.

Travels well with: Judy Stuart- The Apostolic Session; Jason Kao Hwang-Human Rites Trio

Ty Citerman

Bop Kabbalah + Voices: When You Speak Of Times To Come

Self-Released, 2020

9/10

Listen to Bop Kabbalah + Voices: When You Speak Of Times To Come

A Brooklyn based guitarist and songwriter who is well versed in jazz, rock and even classical sounds, Ty Citerman places himself in the company of Judith Berkson and Sara Serpa on this unclassifiable effort, where an avant-garde experience embraces chamber, classical and artistic ideas.

After the brief opening of “Prayer”, where many voices sing and talk with an actual prayer amid some soft ambience, “Gebet” follows with Serpa and Berkson’s gentle vocals working together alongside Citerman’s bare instrumentation.

Further on, “Geyt Brider! Geyt” displays incredible vocal harmonies between the women, as Citerman lays down intricate guitar work to illuminate the warm atmosphere, while “Ver Tut Stroyen Movern, Palatsn?” gets a bit more forceful musically and lyrically with a strong vocal range and louder moments from Citerman. “Es Rirt Zikh”, the album highlight, then spends 7 minutes with a poetic and melodic display of stirring guitar work and soulful singing.

The final track, “Future Generations (Doyrus Fun Der Tsukunft)” unfolds across 4 chapters, where mysterious storytelling, vocal harmonies and soaring chanting are spread across a very diverse landscape.

This is Citerman’s first album as bandleader in 6 years (he also plays in Gutbucket), and he brings a wealth of creativity to a project that few others would even attempt. A concept album that composes and arranges 150 year old texts from the Yiddish labor movement, expect intimacy, exploration and awe in this fascinating record.

Travels well with: The Art Ensemble Of Chicago- Tutankhamun; Charles Lloyd & The Marvels- Vanished Gardens

R+R=Now

Live

Blue Note, 2021

10/10

Listen to Live

The all star line up of Robert Glasper, Terrace Martin, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Derrick Hodge, Taylor McFerrin and Justin Tyson, known collectively as R+R=Now, impressed everyone with their debut album, Collagically Speaking, and here we’re treated to several tracks from that album plus a Kendrick Lamar cover, where the band take the liberty of a live setting to really expand their vision.

The set leads with “Respond”, where a calm atmosphere builds alongside marching band style drumming from Tyson and Martin’s soulful brass as the elegant and playful setting pushes and pulls with beauty and tension, and “Been On My Mind” follows with warm piano from Glasper guiding a dreamy display of processed vocals and sublime grooves.

In the middle, “Change Of Tone” gets busier with equal parts dance friendly percussion, McFerrin’s strong synth and mature keys in 9 minutes of exploration, while “Perspectives/Postpartum” flirts with jazz, soul, pop and R&B in their inimitable and timeless formula.

The final track, “Resting Warrior”, spends 25 minutes amazing us with Hodge’s bouncy bass lines, glorious horns, and frisky percussion that often resembles a controlled chaos approach of fusion, jam band and incredible chemistry that’s both dizzying and perplexing in its meticulousness.

The R’s in the band’s name stand for ‘Reflect’ and ‘Respond’, which has never been more important than now, and the exceptional approach to songwriting and improvising present is unparalleled. Live records rarely sound this good and resonate at this level.

Travels well with: Kendrick Scott Oracle- A Wall Becomes A Bridge; Marcus Strickland Twi-Life- People Of The Sun

Chris Trinidad

Chris Trinidad y Con Todo

Iridium, 2019

8/10

Listen to Chris Trinidad y Con Todo

The Filipino-Canadian bass player and songwriter Chris Trinidad actually wrote this batch of tunes on cruise ships in the Caribbean before letting them sit for nearly two decades. Now, they’ve been formally laid down, and spotlight Latin ideas with no shortage of rhythm and melodies and with a handful of esteemed players on hand.

“Luna Nueva En Mi Mente (New Moon In Mind)” starts the listen with vibrant trumpet from Bill Ortiz, as Carlos Caro’s strong percussion adds much to the lively rhythm, and “Ojos Abiertos (Eyes Open)” follows with dreamy flute prowess thanks to Tod Dickow as Jamie Dubberly’s proficient trombone complements the festive spirit.

Halfway through, “Llegando A La Razon (Arrive To Reason)” trims the pace back with a soulful quality where Trinidad’s sublime guitar playing sees help from trumpet and flute, while “La Esencia De La Intención (Essence Of The Intention)” gets playful and very melodic while highlighting Anthony Blea’s violin.

Near the end, “Hasta Entonces, Mi Amigo (Until Then, My Friend)” dances with a cultured energy that shakes and shuffles amid a punchy delivery, and “Espíritu Del Antiguo Sol (Old Sun In Spirit)” exits the listen with some of the best singing from Perez and Durandy, who spread vocals out across just 3 tracks, but use them effectively.

For fans of Latin jazz, songo, timba, piena, cha cha and salsa, Trinidad and company deliver an exciting and exhilarating listen here, and one that you’re not likely to forget anytime soon.

Travels well with: Duende Libre- The Dance She Spoke; Cúano- Rayuela

Gilles Poizat

Champignon Flamme

Carton, 2021

8/10

Listen to Champignon Flamme

A scientist and longtime music fanatic, Gilles Poizat releases his first instrumental album here, where he’s armed with just trumpet, modular synth and a very fertile imagination.

“Galet Dérivant (Drifting Pebble)” starts the listen with bare, soulful trumpet as much atmosphere settles into a unique jazz meets electronica hybrid, and “Traversée De La Table (Crossing The Table)” continues this theme with buzzing synth as soaring brass lingers in the background of the very stylish tune.

The middle tracks bring us the manipulated and precise “Amont Des Chútes (Upstream Of The Falls)”, where soft trumpet aligns with skittering electronics that are very subtle, while “Cérémonie De La Brume (Mist Ceremony)” is a minimalistic adventure of meditative electronics as the trumpet enters faintly near the end. “Lignes De Fuite (Vanishing Lines)” exits the listen, and brings an ominous quality where a cinematic appeal floats with both mystery and fascination.

A very adventurous effort that’s also quite intimate, all the electronics other than the last track were done live, and Poizat relearned the trumpet- his first instrument- for this highly creative and absorbing listen.

Travels well with: Submarine FM- Crawl; Christopher Sky- What It Is, It Isn’t

Judy Stuart

The Apostolic Session

Inky Dot, 2020

9/10

Listen to The Apostolic Session

The late Judy Stuart leaves us with a pair of tunes that were intended to be demo recordings that she hoped the Vanguard label might include in its early releases of quadraphonic surround sound recordings. Instead, we’re treated to them on this 10” slab of wax that’s well packaged, aesthetically pleasing visually, and contains plenty of information.

Side A offers us “Inspiration”, where Shelly Rusten’s incredible, primitive drumming and Stuart’s vocal acrobatics make an immediate impression as guitars from Paul Nash and Monty Renov complement the free form jazz meets Woodstock-ish folk rock. Sometimes disjointed and always iconoclastic, this first track display rhythm in the most unconventional way.

Side B, “Nickel Bag Of Tears”, is just as unpredictable, as contributions from Calo Scott’s cello and Burton Greene’s piano accent the acid-jazz and psychedelic tendencies that are as perplexing as they are fascinating.

Amazingly, this was recorded way back in 1969, and is now only being released 2 years after Stuart passed away. A swan song like no other, Stuart was clearly far ahead of her time on this avant-garde experience that all liberal ears for jazz and folk will admire.

Travels well with: Jason Kao Hwang- Human Rites Trio; The Nels Cline 4- Currents, Constellations

Amber Weekes

My Romance- A Special Valentine

Self-Released, 2021

8/10

Listen to My Romance- A Special Valentine

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the jazz vocalist Amber Weekes offers us a pair of romantic songs where her timeless approach illuminates the classic tunes with much elegance.

“My Romance”, a 1940’s standard, highlights Weekes’ flawless pipes as Eddy Olivieri’s piano skills are on full display amid soothing strings from Mark Cargill that adds much to the dreamy landscape.

“The Way He Makes Me Feel”, a duet with Mon David, is the fuller song of the pair, where keys from Tony Campodonico, guitars by Ramon Stagnaro, Jeff Littleton’s bass , and Paul Baker’s harp, among others, help cultivate a stirring and poetic climate.

Weekes just recently released her Christmas album, The Gathering, and is slated to release her next album, ‘Round Midnight-Reimagined soon. In the meantime, these 2 songs will hold fans over as her powerful, eloquent and stunning singing has never sounded better.

Travels well with: Amber Weekes- The Gathering; Diane Moser- Birdsongs

Caitlin Sherman

Death To The Damsel

Small Batch, 2021

9/10

Listen to Death To The Damsel

A Seattle based singer-songwriter who cut her teeth playing in Evening Bell and Slow Skate, these days Caitlin Sherman is taking the solo route, where her inimitable vocals guide this empowering listen that touches on themes of liberating oneself from their past in order to progress forward.

“If Not The Man” starts the listen with Sherman’s seductive, nearly haunting singing in a hazy setting that almost seems shoegaze inspired in its blurry Americana, and “War For You” follows with a vintage rock’n’roll spirit that’s bouncy, playful and with plenty of fuzz, too.

“Cosmic Or Chaos” lands in the middle, where a lush, and pretty landscape unfolds with plenty of modern indie-rock nods, while “Up The Street, Driving Down” offers a thicker setting as an undercurrent of alt-rock is met with a rootsy flavor. The title track, one of the album’s best, then showcases Sherman’s versatile pipes in an intimate yet charming delivery of folk influenced song craft.

“The All Seeing” and “Some Paradise Unseen” exit the listen, where the former is a slow burner of poetic power and emotive outpouring, and the latter welcomes piano in an eloquent and sparse finish to a very well thought out 10 tracks.

A record that is all substance and no filler, Sherman’s studio band brings in players from Fleet Foxes, J Tillman and Jamie Wyatt, and together they illuminate her gritty, melodic and unique brand of Americana on this very impressive effort.

Travels well with: Jaime Wyatt- Neon Cross; Lilly Hiatt- Walking Proof

Charles Metz

Music For Virginal

Navona, 2021

8/10

Listen to Music Virginal

The harpsichord and keyboard wizard Charles Metz brings us an entire record played on a restored Francesco Poggi virginal built in 1590. Similar to a harpsichord and most used in the late Renaissance and early Baroque period, Metz manipulates the pitch of the instrument on this very unique listen.

Metz starts the record with the warm and melodic “Pavan”, and the tracks move swiftly from one to the next with the playful “Paul’s Wharf”, as well as the more forceful and extremely detailed “Medley”.

The middle tracks offer us the acrobatic picking of “Susanne Un Jour”, while the lightning quick dynamics of “Galiarda” mesmerizes us immediately. “Lachrymae Pavan”, a particularly strong track, then moves with an emotive spirit, as Metz makes the most out of every note played.

Close to the end, “Passamezzo Pavan” shows us so much beauty in his timeless quality, and “Coranto” exits the listen upbeat and energetic with adventurous and fascinating talent present.

Truly an atypical record, Metz does a great job of spotlighting the consonance and dissonance of the glorious harmonies, where the bulk of the songs originate from the late 16th century composer William Tisdale, as he makes music that hundreds of years old very appealing.

Travels well with: Elaine Freeman- La Speranza; Mark John McEncroe- Musical Images For Piano

Carl Vollrath

Transit Voices

Navona, 2021

8/10

Listen to Transit Voices

The esteemed composer Carl Vollrath focuses on the clarinet here, where themes of the origins of humans and their interactions complement the very mature and meticulous landscape.

“Merging Memories” gets the album off to a soothing start, where Rane Moore’s clarinet and Randall Hodgkinson’s piano work together with both mystery and fascination, and “Testament II” follows with clarinet, cello and piano from Timothy Phillips, Laura Usiskin and Jeremy Samolesky, where much atmosphere and a cinematic quality enters the skilled and restrained setting.

Elsewhere, the aptly titled “Trio For Violin, Clarinet, And Piano” moves with a swift pace as Moore’s woodwind shuffles around the low keys from Hodgkinson and Sharan Leventhal’s violin adds an orchestral angle, while “Testament I” highlights Jonathan Miller’s cello, which is complemented by proficient clarinet and keys.

Closer to the end, “Bela’s Bash” meshes violin, clarinet and keys with precision and playfulness, and “Farewell To A Virgin” exits the listen with just keys and clarinet working alongside with much beauty in a bare but impactful vision.

Vollrath recently penned a record that spotlighted the flute, and here he shows us the many possibilities of the clarinet in a very enjoyable and thoughtful environment.

Travels well with: Lock & Key Vo. II; The Lowell Chamber Orchestra- The Suite

Various Artists

Lock & Key Vol II: New Chamber Works

Navona, 2021

8/10

Listen to Lock & Key Vol II: New Chamber Works

A compilation of 5 new chamber works from the minds of Kenneth A. Kuhn, Carol Barnett, Herbert A. Deutsch, Philippe Kocher and Sarah Wallin-Huff, this installment of the Lock & Key series again showcases divine talent in an inviting atmosphere of chamber sounds.

Kuhn’s “Two Nostalgic Melodies” starts the listen with cascading keys from Yoko Hagino while Amy Advocat’s clarinet adds much to flowing beauty, and “Shaker Suite: Canterbury” follows with plenty of warm, playful instrumentation between flute, oboe, french horn, clarinet and bassoon as plenty of dreaminess exists in the Barnett composition.

The middle track, Deutsch’s “Iceland Invention”, has the woodwinds dancing around the soulful French horn with elegance, while “Projektionen II” is an extremely adventurous track where the woodwinds take focus. “The Oracle” exits the listen with moody strings from Pola Benke’s cello and Agnes Schwartz’s violin, as Masako Klassen’s piano accents the cautious climate well.

A listen where each track shines in its own light while touching on the universal themes of the human experience, not a moment here is squandered as the players illuminate the grand vision of the composers with incredible precision.

Travels well with: The Lowell Chamber Orchestra- The Suite; John Robertson- Symphonies No. 4 & 5

The Crossing

Tower And The Garden

Navona, 2021

8/10

Listen to Tower And The Garden

The award winning ensemble The Crossing are aligned with the conductor Donald Nally on this 23rd album, where the vulnerability of our earth, the wonder of nature and the power of the spoken word are all mulled over with much emphasis on singing.

“A Child Said, What Is The Grass?” starts the listen with warm, ethereal choral singing, as many voices emit a sublime and soaring presence in its 15 minutes that takes nods to Walt Whitman amid high harmonies.

“The Tower And The Garden” follows with 4 movements that contain much beauty and grace, where strategic singing and violin, viola and cello blend together with incredible power and innovation. Technology (The Tower) and refuge (The Garden) are explored in the eloquent and stirring climate, which continues the theme of well out thought subject matter.

The final track, “I Enter The Earth”, starts bare and mysterious before building into an ebullient display before retreating back to calm as inspiration from the folklore of Botswana dating back to the ‘70s enters the equation.

An outfit who are firmly planted between choral sounds and new music worlds, Tower And The Garden is yet another artistic, robust and emotive display of The Crossing’s unmistakable execution that has been worthy of two Grammy awards and six nominations, with, most likely, more on the horizon.

Travels well with: Herb Deutsch- Encounters; George Palmer- Breaking The Silence

Early Times & The High Rollers!

The Corner

VizzTone, 2021

9/10

Listen to The Corner

Early Times is an artist with many talents- street poet, DJ and blues rock legend who began playing clubs as a teenager. Here with the High Rollers, he turns in 10 thick and moody tunes, where his inimitable vocals and analytical guitar playing soar across all originals.

“Come On, Let’s Ride” starts the listen with rugged yet melodic timeless blues rock, where Joshua Keitt’s fiery drumming and Dan Schnapp’s warm keys accent Early Times’ vocal acrobatics, and “On The Corner” follows with flowing guitar lines from Early Times as grit and power contribute to the soulful landscape.

Close to the middle, “She’s About to Lose Her Mind” brings Popa Chubby in on lead guitar as a bouncy spirit enters the equation, while “Rosie’s Herbs ‘N Ting” illustrates dynamic interplay between the all star musicians in the roaring instrumental. “Say, Man”, an especially noteworthy track, then recruits spoken word into a rhythmic and playful album standout.

Near the end, “Charlemagne” benefits greatly from Colleen Messina’s backing vocals amid proficient, bluesy swagger, and “Return Of The Queen” exits the listen swift, highly melodic and full of rock’n’roll energy that’s as contagious as it is absorbing.

Early Times is a hell of a storyteller, and his blues template also welcomes funk and folk ideas as he and the High Rollers deliver the first must hear blues record of 2021.

Travels well with: Too Slim And The Taildraggers- The Remedy; Johnny Burgin- No Border Blues

The Farm Hands

Memories Of Home

Pinecastle, 2019

8/10

Listen to Memories Of Home

The bluegrass legends The Farm Hands waste little time between records, and return with a dozen new tunes of their timeless, soaring harmonies on Memories Of Home.

“Stop And Smell The Roses” starts the album off with their signature fiddle acrobatics and group vocals, and this continues to the soothing “I Can’t Go Home Anymore”, as well as the warm, country spirit of “You Never Gave Up On Me”.

The back half of the album offers the sublime instrumentation of “One Last Tear”, while the glorious mountain pickin’ of “How To Make A Man” unfolds with unparalleled skill. “Grandpa”, a late album highlight, radiates an emotive and highly melodic tune that is a strong reminder of just how important family is.

A record about life and its inevitable changes, one thing that hasn’t changed is the inimitable bluegrass sounds The Farm Hands produce, which sounds better than ever thanks to them expanding to a 5 piece here.

Travels well with: Merle Monroe- Back To The Country; Nightflyer- Flight