Most of the sessions recorded under the magnolia tree at the Anti-Corporate Music/Black Matter Mastering headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, by owner Dan Emery are individual artists or duos, but here we have a trio. Douglas Francisco provides steel guitar compositions, along with viola de gamba, double bass and snare drum, played by two old friends: renowned New Orleans string player Ben Fox, and Keith J. Smith of Resonant Rogues. One of the sheer delights of this series is the way it takes us back in time, to when music was created by musicians and there was just one opportunity for a take, but this release takes this concept to a whole new level. Not only had the musicians only had just one hour to understand the skeleton of the songs before they improvised against them, but this really does sound like a long-lost recording from the Thirties if not earlier. The whole recording process seems dated, while the languorous style takes us back to an older and very different time indeed.
This is an album which in many ways is incredibly simple, yet is also wonderfully layered and out of all the albums in the series is one where I have found more to enjoy each time I listen to it. We have some wonderful instruments, Douglas has a relaxed vocal style, while his steel playing is a delight as it is never massively complex in that he never feels the need to throw in multiple note when just one will do. It is classic bluegrass with elements of trad blues, the cicadas join in the fun, as always, and are the perfect accompaniment to yet another wonderful release from Anti-Corp. When music these days is so often throwaway and meaningless, there are still labels and musicians who craft art which stands the test of time and will be there for generations, and this is one of those.
Rating: 9/10
