Polecat Creek – Leaving Eden

Polecat Creek features Laurelyn Dossett and Kari Sickenberger, two singer-songwriters from North Carolina who have pooled their talents, ostensibly because their wonderful harmonies bring out more in their songs than each of their own individual voices could. Although the women straddle the fence between bluegrass and old-time (leaning more toward the latter), there are also occasional echoes of Cajun music, honky-tonk, and blues. Their second album was recorded in Louisiana with Dirk Powell producing and Riley Baugus as the main accompanist (mostly on banjo and fiddle). Kevin Wimmer (fiddle), Terry Huval (lap steel and resophonic guitar), Mike Burch (drums) and Powell (a mutli-instrumentalist) make up the rest of the backing crew. The songs, written individually by either Dossett or Sickenberger, are memorable and lyrically sophisticated. “Mama”, has nothing in common with the sappy tributes to motherhood that are prevalent in some country music circles. “The Past Ain’t Over Yet”, the story of a prisoner who is haunted by a murder committed while under the influence, is a jaunty blues that includes some classic lines: “Now I can’t look ahead and I can’t forget/My future’s behind me and the past ain’t over yet.” The title track is a touching song about the collapse of a small-town industry and the inhabitants’ struggle to survive. Strong vocals, tight harmonies, compelling arrangements, and impeccable musicianship all help to bring out the best in the duo’s songs.