So the name reminds you of an ’80s metal band. The harder you try to remember, the more you’re sure you’ve never heard of them before. If you’re a bluegrass fan, though, you’ve certainly heard of some of the players here: Behind Candlewyck’s core of guitarist Ty Bennett and mandolin player Chris Emerson are members of Blue Highway, IIIrd Tyme Out, and a recent configuration of the Lonesome River Band, as well as Larry Rice, Terry Baucom, Barbara Lamb, and Jens Kruger.
All this star power can be a bit distracting. The album leads off with “Whatcha Gonna Say”, a newgrass number that seems hopelessly derivative — until you realize the lead vocalist is John Cowan, doing a pretty fair imitation of himself. Similarly, on the gospel-styled “Fireman”, they sound a lot like Lonesome River Band and LRB or Rock County — thanks to the presence of Don Rigsby.
All Candlewyck’s material is original, and over half their thirteen tracks are instrumental, including the steel-drenched “Mercy Percy” and “Just So You’ll Know”, which closes the album with piano, saxophone, and electric mandolin. The playing throughout is crisp, clear, and hard to classify. There are a few straight-ahead bluegrass numbers, but there’s also enough percussion to scare away purists.
Emerson and Bennett are obviously capable musicians who can cover a lot of stylistic ground without spreading themselves too thin. But as I listened to this album, I didn’t find myself focusing on their picking; instead I was checking to see who was playing fiddle or bass, or who took that nice banjo break. That shows a measure of restraint and good taste uncommon among many of today’s acoustic hotshots.
And it’s virtually unheard of among ’80s metal bands.
