I am a sucker for the banjo and even more of a sucker for widescreen Americana sung sweetly by a band of wonderful musicians and, there you have, The Duhks.
'Beyond the Blue' is a fan/self-funded album from the Winniepeg outfit , which is their fifth LP after a two year hiatus from a thirteen year career so far. Produced by Mike Merenda and Ruth Unger of the Mammals, and with the return of vocalist Jessica Havey and the addition of fiddler Rosie Newton, drummer/percussionist Kevin Garcia, and guitarist/bouzouki player Colin Savoie-Levac joining Leonard Podolak the band are on a firm footing indeed.
All of the people who have been in the band over the years, including non-touring founding members Tania Elizabeth and Jordan McConnell (who both appear on the album) have shaped the record you will hopefully be playing soon.
The record is a dream from the outset; nicely paced it evokes mental pictures of wide open landscapes, log cabins and songs on the porch, whilst these stories of life, love and loss just seem to whizz by.
The title track and opening song for example was written by Beth Nielsen Chapman and Gary Nicholson and starts with Leonard's claw hammer banjo and the lap-steel of guest Charlie Rose which when combined with the voices of Jessica and Rosie, you know you have a decent record ahead of you.
So sit back and enjoy. Half way through the record comes ' Black Mountain Lullaby', probably the sweetest song you will hear this year. As we get to 'Je Pense à Toi' the album takes a shift into a true world music vibe 'You Go East' I'll Go West' has an Eastern European rhythm, ' Just One Step Away' takes us into gospel territory.
So it's welcome back to a truly rejuvenated Duhks and hopefully a UK tour soon!
Pete
9/11
Beyond The Blue
Banjo Roustabout
Suffer No Fools
Burn
These Dreams
Black Mountain Lullaby
Tønderhoning
Lazy John
Je Pense à Toi
You Go East, I'll Go West
Just One Step Away
Je Pense à Toi (Reprise)