Latest CD releases reviewed

OPEN ROAD
...in the life Rounder
***

Before O Brother, Where Art Thou? pushed bluegrass into an uncomfortable front seat, the genre had seemed content to limp along as the poor near relation of country. The movie changed all that, though predictably only for a while. Today the dexterous rhythms and woe-filled tales of lost love and Satan's ways are seeping back into the shadows of Americana. There is a limit to how much bluegrass can be modernised before it stops being bluegrass. US group Open Road don't take any chances. Their sound is resolutely traditional - neat harmonies played over guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and bass - and their collection of mostly covers is a joy, well chosen and tastefully played with just the right blend of melancholy and small-town flair. That said, two of the best tracks are originals by vocalist Bradford Lee Folk: the wry I'm Not Perfect and the grim ballad, Sinkin' Man. www.rounder.com
Joe Breen