There's nothing particularly alternative about these country sounds but there’s nothing wrong with that. This is the kind traditional old-time music of the Appalachian Mountains familiar to fans of Bluegrass or lovers of the tunes that inspired The Coen Brother O Brother Where Art Thou.
Indeed, this string-based trio could easily trade under the name of The Soggy Bottom Girls as the all-female band features singer and fiddler Chloe Edmonstone, guitarist/harmony singer Meredith Watson and banjo player Hilary Hawke of New York duo Dubl Handi.
The tracks are a mix of mountain songs with odes to " jilted lovers, hard drinkers, and independent souls"
Edmonstone’s originals including album opener When the Whiskey's Gone which can also be heard in the Richard Gere-starring film, Time Out of Mind.
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There's also a version of the 50s Western roots number I’ve Forgotten More Than You’ll Ever Know About Him, a cover of George Jones’ drinking song Just One More and the murder ballad Henry Lee.
Despite the dark subject matter to many songs, the lively arrangements mean they lose something of the menace and/or desperation.
The quality of the spirited playing is some compensation but a little more shadow cast on the lightness would have made an enjoyable record even stronger.
Locust Honey String Band's website
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