Turning Over Stones
Ceilidhe’s, 2021
8/10
A teacher, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Bett Padgett returns with her 10th album, and it’s packed full of universally enjoyable folk songs where she plays a variety of instruments and explores gentle, soothing moods.
“Sittin’ On The Fence” starts the listen with Padgett’s cozy and warm vocals gliding alongside her careful and lovely strumming with a hint of blues, and “A Pair Of Wings” follows with her playful and radiant banjo soundtracking the expressive storytelling with some mountain flavor.
Closer to the middle, “The Fruit And The Flower” recruits Padgett’s graceful piano alongside her flowing pipes in a very harmonic, poetic climate, while “Don’t Take My Yard Signs” is a bit more firm, albeit in a charming way, as Padgett scolds those who take yard signs. “The Storm”, one of the album’s best, then swirls with dreamy melodies as the songstress gets a bit tense, too, and even includes a mandolin.
Near the end, “Wild Mountain Thyme” is full of sublime beauty, where Padgett’s gorgeous singing is complemented by a Celtic harp, and “Where Did Papa Go?” exits the listen with a lullaby quality that’s not without rhythm as the clawhammer guitar and piano interact with strong attention to detail.
Padgett plays and sings with an immediately memorable delivery, where her wise and eloquent stories make an impact akin to seeing an old friend that you’ll want to visit with again and again.
Travels well with: Brooksie Wells- Stops Time; Carole Wise- The Long Way Home