Showing that their influences stray far beyond bluegrass, they include a storming version of Tom Petty/Jeff Lynne’s A Mind With A Heart of Its Own, proving that acoustic bass and handclaps can substitute perfectly for drums, and in the right hands a mandolin and banjo can equal lead and rhythm electric guitar any day. The resulting songs, Bury My Troubles (an upbeat barnstormer) and The River Roaming Song (with more than a nod to John Hartford, with its whimsical poppy sound but always ‘coming back home to you’) are clearly cathartic. Gross’s father also passed away around this time, and he recounts taking his chair down to the river to sit with his feet in the water, playing and writing in an attempt to make sense of it all. There are three impressive instrumental tunes, Harefoot’s Retreat and Snow Owl from the pen of Adrian Gross and probably the best train instrumental ever written, Frank Evans’ Platform Four. However, it is actually a joyful tribute to his brother, who passed away during this time, ‘I wish I could turn back time’ and ‘We’ll see you again some time’ are interspersed with frenetic solos from each of the band. Poulson’s You said Goodbye initially sounds like a lighthearted, fast paced breakup song. Guest bassist, Charles James, equals the other three in phenomenal musicianship and his funky string-bending opening behind Darryl Poulson’s hooky guitar riff and Adrian Gross’s lead mandolin sets a high standard. Kicking off with the Frank Evan’s penned I Don’t Know ‘what she sees in me’, it’s obvious from the start that this album is going to be an uplifting experience, despite the raw emotion fuelling much of it. The result: one of the must-have records of the year. Add to that the loss of close family members by two of the band, and the stepping back of their bass player to family commitments.ĭespite this the three band members - Frank Evans (banjo), Adrian Gross (mandolin, mandola) and Darryl Poulenc (guitar) - threw themselves into quarantined frenetic practising on their instruments and crafting new songs. And then the world fell apart for touring musicians, with the pandemic enforced cessation of touring. In 2020, they were on the pig’s back - a Juno nomination in 2019 was followed by the accolade of Momentum Band of 2020 from the IBMA. Out of loss and hardship can emerge great art, and this is exactly what has happened in the case of this fourth glorious album from Toronto progressive bluegrass band, the Slocan Ramblers. The Slocan Ramblers Up The Hill And Through The Fog Self Release
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