Old Juniper
Jalopy, 2024
8/10
This first album of all original work in many years from New York’s The Down Hill Strugglers embraces plenty of Appalachian folk from the 3 multi-instrumentalists.
“Gettin’ Ready To Go” starts the listen with warm fiddle and plenty of fluid banjo picking in the raw recording, and “Battle Hollow” follows with guest Hannah Shepard’s flowing cello that complements the meticulous and mesmerizing strings.
Further along, “Graying Waltz” welcomes cello again for the melodic gestures and old time feel, while the title track showcases intricate picking and mountain-esque melodies that you can’t not enjoy.
Deeper yet, the lovely fiddle of “Whistle Won’t Blow” welcomes harmony vocals from Walker Shepard and Jackson Lynch via the richly textured album highlight, and “Let The Rich Go Bust” continues the mood with vivid storytelling that suits the layered string interaction.
Walker Shepard and Lynch handle vocals, guitar, banjo and fiddle, and Eli Smith contributes banjo, guitar, banjo-mandolin, pump organ and harmonica. Together, they create a nostaglic string effort that was recorded live to tape with one microphone, which gives it a very organic and authentic personality.
Travels well with: Aquarian Blood- Counting Backwards Again; Wyndham Baird- After The Morning