Vintage Banjos, Mandolins, Guitars, and Bass Highlight Duo’s Rich Bluegrass Debut
Along with string bassist June Drucker — the duo of Debra Clifford & Becca Wintle have crafted a captivating release and they are the sole musicians. Debra and Becca provide all vocals; while Debra plays acoustic guitar, mandolin claw hammer banjo — and not just any store bought musical hardware — between them they boast quite an arsenal of vintage instruments. Becca (on fiddle & acoustic guitar) plays a 1900 German fiddle, Debra utilizes a 1949 Southern Jumbo Gibson guitar, a 1930’s Gibson F-5 mandolin, an 1890’s 5-string short scale banjo (on the folk-classic “Sugar Baby” made famous by the legendary Dock Boggs — 1927), and a 2015 Enoch Dobson 5-string banjo that is the “kid” in their collection. Ms. Drucker plays a 1940’s Kay String Bass. Does this matter? Well, to musicians listening to this album and love this kind of information I am sure it does. Purists can better appreciate and understand the depth of the traditional music these women play and why much of their music sounds quite authentic from the more modern players.
Their harmony vocals rival the Indigo Girls, the McGarrigle Sisters and at times they come close to sounding like The Roches (remember them?). The music was recorded pristinely. Debra Clifford has a deep resume in music having worked with the Lonesome Sisters – an acoustic mountain ballad duo that released six albums and performed with many well-known roots artists. Becca Wintle — originally from England, gas a love of bluegrass and old time music that made her convert. Her classical violin has added a new dimension and tone to her fine fiddle work.
The Farwells (not Farewells) are named after Debra’s 18th Century ancestor, Bethiah Farwell.
This 13-song debut album features the duo singing and playing primarily a traditional set with some slight effective re-workings. Produced and arranged meticulously by Debra and Becca in both Massachusetts and England – the songs are potent with their excellent harmonizing. Even the acapella gospel “Little White Robe,” is powerful.
The absorbing Becca fiddle resounds on “Pretty Little Indian,” – a short traditional piece that is captivates in its multitude of string sounds all happening quite simultaneously and almost spontaneously. The last time I enjoyed such fiddling was performed by a fiddle-duo known as Burning Bridget Cleary – a fiery double-fiddle female duo.
“Little Sadie,” is performed with vigor despite its tragic story. The song was also covered by Bob Dylan years ago so I guess this old tune still has legs. There’s a happiness to a well-played fiddle and sometimes no words are necessary to convey its tale. “Biddy,” is a tightly woven musical treat to the ears. If you listen closely there are many things going on that make this short instrumental blossom like a morning rose. As well, there’s nothing better than a nice execution song.
“Hang Me,” may be a dour subject but The Farwells sing and play this with conviction (play on words not intended). It has all the angst of a criminal’s hanging or the desperation of a poor innocent slave. Effective.
A nice mandolin colorizes the open for the harmony fabric on “Green Pastures,” and it’s almost spiritual. The ladies’ vocals merge at times and become a unified voice on the poignant lyrics. The instrumentation is solid and never interferes with the focal point of the sensitive vocals. The mandolin accompanies with exuberance and some sadness. This is what the word classic defines. This is a very powerful rendition of an old melody. A well-thought out arrangement. No shooting from the hip, yet the steely threads of real feeling is embedded. It just doesn’t matter where you’re from geographically. If the Appalachian musical tradition penetrates your soul and runs down your arms into your fingers and your voice…. that’s the purity a good musician seeks. It’s like seeing their veins emit from their wrists — strung as strings onto their guitars, mandolins, fiddles and bass. Their hearts couldn’t be more into this music.
“That Train,” possesses a full-bodied fiddle and it’s a perfect send-off until next time. An emotive concluding statement of a tune – with a riveting personal performance by these kindred spirits that leaves no dust on the majority of these musical “high lonesome” antique melodies. In a word…it’s rewarding.
Website: http://thefarwells.band/bio/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/thefarwells/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/search?q=the%20farwells
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this review / commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of No Depression. All photography is owned by the respective photographers and is their copyrighted image; credited where photographer’s name was known & being used here solely as reference and will be removed on request.
John Apice / No Depression / February 2016