Hoth Brothers – Workin’ And Dreamin’
Self Released – 16 September 2019
It’s not that often that an album from an unknown quantity totally blindsides you, forcing you to listen, once, twice, thrice and more, all the better to wallow in its excellence. Such is the case with Workin’ And Dreamin’, a collaboration between two “backwoods” singer songwriters, Bard Edrington V and Boris McCutcheon, the project spawned as they swapped stories and songs while working in an apple orchard in New Mexico. Finding common cause, the pair eventually got down to recording an album in the space of three days, accompanied by Sarah Ferrell on upright bass and vocals with Greg Williams playing drums while the duo provided the various guitars, banjo and mandolin.
Workin’ And Dreamin’ is an album unashamed of its roots. The old time songs collected by Harry Smith, the sounds of the Appalachian Mountains, and the proud tradition of frontier songs all figure here as Edrington and McCutcheon delve into the past while they also deliver some thoughts on contemporary woes. It’s a wide-ranging album. There are some stirring songs led by clawhammer banjo such as O The Birds Still Sing and Chilli Line while the expansive frontier is recalled on the chilling Rendezvous Duel and their ode to the essential tool of the old west on Horses Made Of Wind (with McCutcheon snorting like a horse at one point). The plaintive Singing Grass is a tender and moving reminder of the mortality rate amongst those who settled on the frontier while Whiskey And A Woodstove is more turbulent, recalling the days of moonshine and dodging the law. The title song is particularly impressive as Edrington leads on a grand salute to the folk who built the country as it edged westward.
On an album which runs to almost 70 minutes, there are too many highlights to mention, but it has to be said that, despite its length, it never outstays its welcome. We should note that the Hoth Brothers bring the album bang up to date on a couple of songs. Trees Of Heaven, the opening song, is a brilliantly played rush of guitars, banjo, harp and drums with some tremendous harmonies adding a slight Gospel touch. Appropriate here as they pluck heavenly interventions from the bible and then pray that the same such justice be dealt to Trump and Pence. More directly, they skewer Trump’s inauguration on the brilliantly barbed January.
Workin’ and Dreamin’ is released 16 September 2019
Hoth Brothers tour dates – https://www.hothbrothers.com/live