Quiet Country Town
Pinecastle, 2022
8/10
An all star ensemble of Robert Hale, Curt Chapman, Scott Napier, Matt Despain and John Lewis, as Wildfire the quintet bring us 10 tracks of originals and covers that embrace all the hallmarks of bluegrass.
“Ride The Train” opens the listen with smooth and harmonic voices alongside speedy mandolin from Napier, as the warm bluegrass climate unfolds with much timelessness, and the title track follows with Scott Vestal stepping in on banjo for the cautious and very breezy 3 minutes.
At the midpoint, “Ain’t No California benefits much from Chapman’s skilled bass playing amid the cozy harmony vocals, while “Oh Lonesome Me” moves swiftly, where Despain’s charming dobro won’t go unnoticed alongside the vivid storytelling.
“I’ve Been Through It All” lands near the end, and is a bit rugged in a mountain-esque sort of way, and illuminates the careful picking acrobatics, and “Help Me” exits with a sublime intimacy that tugs on the heartstrings with its bare beauty.
Wildfire also take help from the legendary Dale Ann Bradley on harmony vocals for a track, as well as Shawn Lane’s fiddle prowess, and it helps make for a top notch and very memorable listen.
Travels well with: Phil Leadbetter & The All Stars Of Bluegrass- Swing For The Fences; Robert Hale- Blue Haze