CD Review: Shifting Sands Of Time - Wayfaring Strangers
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The title cut from the album begins with an almost haunting strain of clarinet, piano and fiddle music. This builds into an almost hummable melody before launching into the beautiful harmony vocals of Jennifer Kimball and Cathie Ryan. This is without a doubt my favorite song from the album. "VERY CHOICE." "Man Of Constant Sorrow" features the unbeatable vocals of Dr. Ralph Stanley. This tune begins in the good ole bluegrass way and changes course midstream (In a good way) by adding an awesome jazz accompaniment. "I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome Too" is the classic Hank Williams tune. It sounds fantastic in this much jazzed-up style. The Wayfaring Strangers have a little help on this tune from friend Tim O'Brien. He does an amazing job on the lead vocals. "June Apple" is a tune that is maybe not so easy on the ears but is definitely jazz and bluegrass off and running one heck of a foot race. "Memories Of You" features Jennifer Kimball and Lucy Kaplansky on vocals. This softly lilting tune is given an interesting edginess to it with the instrumental accompaniment. "Funeral In My Brain" is a slightly offbeat tune that consists of three parts of Emily Dickinson's famous poems set to music. It is an interesting mix. Combining music and poetry like this could make boring high school and college English classes more interesting. "Working On A Building" features Tracy Bonham on lead vocals. I love the totally different feel of this song. There are some cool things going on with the instrument accompaniment in this song. It has an almost African American spiritual type sound to it in parts. "Rank Stranger" is a new version of an old Stanley Brothers tune featuring the vocals of bluegrass singer Rhonda Vincent. This is probably the best song on the album. "I wandered again to my home in the mountains where once I lived happy and free. I looked for my friends but I never could find them. I found they were all rank strangers to me." I just have to say that I really enjoyed this album. It's very different, but very interesting to listen to. These are really a talented bunch of folks and I look forward to hearing more from The Wayfaring Strangers. The Wayfaring Strangers:
Song List
Audio clips courtesy of Rounder
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