THIS QUARTET ORIGINALLY met in the 60s, as part of the Southern California bluegrass/folk scene. Individually they became members of 'supergroups' such as the Byrds, The Dillards, Flying Burrito Brothers, Country Gazette, J.D.Crowe & the New South and The Desert Rose Band. Pedersen’s credits lie in the country field with Emmylou Harris, John Denver and Linda Ronstadt. Together they released Out Of The Woodwork two years ago, which garnered rave reviews and has been a consistent seller, with each artiste’s own loyal fans. Following behind their debut album comes this self-titled album.

Consisting of 13 tracks, they explore a shared passion of bluegrass and acoustic country-related music. There are four new songs from the pen of Chris Hillman and one from Larry Rice. Other classics includes a fine up-tempo version of Friend of the Devil (The Grateful Dead), Hearts Overflowing (Mike Brewer) and Delaney & Bonnie’s Never Ending Song of Love (#2 for the New Seekers 1971).

Chris Hillman opens on lead vocals with his own composition Doesn’t Mean That Much Anymore with Herb Pedersen on harmony, adding a choppy rhythm on banjo. Larry Rice takes over lead vocals on Side Effects Of Love, which he wrote himself, with Hillman and Pedersen helping out on harmony vocals and excellent contributions from Fred

Travers on Dobro. Herb Pederson takes over lead vocals on Never Ending Song Of Love with Hillman and Larry Rice on mandolin, Tony Rice guitar, Ronnie Simpkins bass and brother Rickie, contributing impeccable riffs on fiddle.

Out Among The Stars is a powerful ballad telling of a young man, with no job and no prospects, who attempts to rob a liquor store at gunpoint, in the knowledge that his life’s problems will soon end in a hail of bullets with him finally being noticed on the front page of the next day’s newspapers, bringing shame on his family. The up-tempo Moonshine from Jimmie D.Buchanan speaks for itself, while The Year Of El Niño tells of the disaster caused by this turbulent weather.

I Will, written by Hillman, is not the Lennon & McCartney song that Alison Krauss recorded several years ago. The penultimate track is another of Hillman’s, The Walkin Blues and the album closing with Bruce Phillips’ gospel style, I’ll Be On That Good Road Someday.

These musicians are of the highest standard and have steadfastly stood the sands of time. Good music usually takes you gently by the hand and leads you towards it. The fire in Rice, Rice, Hillman and Pedersen grabs you by the scruff of the neck and makes you listen!

Graham Lees, Dewesbury, W.Yorks Write to | Website

1st Jan 2000