Youth isn’t always wasted on the young. Exuberance, innovation and sheer musical talent unite in a confident and accomplished debut album by this foursome, three of whom have barely reached voting age. It doesn’t hurt that their producer is Alison Krauss, who signals her presence in the album’s pacing, musical literacy, and fearless penetration to emotional bedrock.
Spiking its newgrass/folk core with Celtic accents and a dash of pop, the band interlaces instrumental tracks with vocal numbers marked by ethereal leads and rich, subtle harmonies. A judicious blend of originals and covers ensures a balance that a young group likely couldn’t achieve using only self-penned material.
“Ode To A Butterfly” is a playful swirl of instrumental high spirits, with mandolin, violin and banjo leading the flight. Bounding acoustic bass sets the rhythm on a lusty rendition of the sing-along chestnut “The Fox”. The mandolin-driven caper of joy “House Of Tom Bombadil” will send you scurrying for that dusty volume of Tolkien. The group’s songwriting skills reach an apogee in “The Lighthouse’s Tale”, where seductive vocals, shifting rhythms and storytelling artistry paint a tragedy of love and death with the pitiless sea as a backdrop.
There are a couple of misfires — the cloying “The Hand Song” and an almost strident finale to “Sweet Afton” — but those are small complaints when there’s so much to enjoy.
