27th August Worth the wait

David Rawlings and Gillian Welch. 

13 years is a long time to have to wait for something. But that's how long fans of Gillian Welch have had to wait for any new material. That wait is finally over. 

In the interveening decade she has released music including several albums of out takes and archive tracks plus recording released under the name of her long time song writing partner Dave Rawlings. But new stuff in her own name has been noticable only its abscence.

Named after their recording studio, Woodland, whose roof was torn off during a violent tornado that tore through Tennessee is 2020, threatening to destroy not just their equipment but also their master recordings, out of the ruins has come this stunner of a CD, possibly their best so far.

The 10 songs of enchanting Americana are meticulously and breathtakingly crafted,featuring pin point harmonies, stunning guitar work and a sense of melencholia that cuts deep. 

I've been luck enough to catch them live on a couple of occasions and this latest offering invokes memories of watching the two of them stood on rolled out rug on the almost bare stage of the Bridgeway Hall, Manchester back in 2003, weaving their magic to a spell bound audience. 

This is one of my favourite songs from WoOdland; this is North Country


 



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