Copper Mountain Records

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I’m always intrigued by an all-original bluegrass album. There’s always been a strong tradition in bluegrass of recycling older material—lyrics, melody lines, whole songs—so it’s interesting to see what fresh ideas today’s songwriters are coming up with. West Virginia’s Crandall Creek comprising Jerry Andrews (rhythm guitar, vocals), Kathy Wigman Lesnock (vocals), Dustin Terpenning (banjo, mandolin), Hannah Livingston (fiddle, vocals), Mason Atha (bass) and Anna Dunham (vocals) have penned all dozen songs on this latest album. Recorded at Jamie Peck’s studio in Wheeling, West Virginia, this album features former members Abby Latocha (vocals), Trish Imbrogno (bass) and Wyatt Kidd (fiddle, banjo) plus Roger Hoard (lead guitar) and Jamie Peck (bass). For the closing Cake Walk, the band is joined by special guests Darrin Vincent (bass), Andy Leftwich (fiddle, guitar, mandolin), Jessie Baker (banjo) and Josh Swift (Dobro).

The rousing original offerings such as the opening track Stars Are Alignin’ and Old Virginia Hills, demonstrate the fact that their drive and dexterity are second to none. The latter uses a fiddle to create a driving melody, with Kathy, the band’s principal songwriter, handling the lead vocal on a song that lays out all the benefits of living a simple rural life in the mountains. Stars Are Alignin’ is an energetic and enjoyable romp painting a picture of a young girl following her dream of a singin’ career. Meanwhile, the pensive Oak Tree falls into that murky territory of religious poetry that slides between secular and sacred interpretations.

As the song builds, Abby displays plaintive, soulful vocals as she asks to be buried ‘neath a favourite tree, making for a song that captures a beautiful mood. Abby also handles the vocal on One In Ninety-Nine, another song that she had a hand in co-writing. A travelling song with a compelling storyline, with that perfect spring blossom feel, or maybe you prefer that early Sunday morning breakfast at your favourite spot; it’s spritely and freeing. Abby and company use this down-to-earth approach to keep the emphasis on the storytelling.  

They up the tempo for the toe-tapping story of Miss Ida, with the band sounding tighter than ever, with each member playing off of each other perfectly. The title song taps into the universal feelings of empty nest syndrome, focusing on fond memories and the sadness of emptiness that still lingers. They return to the up-tempo approach with Lost And Lonely, a highly engaging song about travelling anywhere and everywhere, trying to move on following a romantic break-up. Energetic and enticing, featuring a great acoustic guitar kick-off, with fiddle and banjo to the fore, the musicianship is effortlessly expressive, making music with a natural ease that ensures both cohesion and credence. Child Of A Troubled Man captures all of life’s little injustices, especially persecution and bullying, but also its glowing sparks of a loving family, as the narrator confronts the reality that we’re all just regular people. Ultimately, Crandall Creek prove themselves to be one of the more astute bluegrass outfits of today and this album is further proof of the fact that their love of this music extends well beyond an Appalachian embarkation point. Modest though it may seem, it’s a collection that ought to take the band to a more ample-sized audience.

www.crandallcreek.com

December 2022