Born in Georgia, Locust Honey String Band singer and fiddler Chloe Edmonstone (now based in Asheville, North Carolina) channels generations of country women in her original songs, writing odes to jilted lovers, hard drinkers, and independent souls that walks hand in hand with the old-time mountain songs that are featured on their new album, Never Let Me Cross Your Mind. Showcasing the dynamic partnership of Edmonstone and renowned old-time musician guitarist/singer Meredith Watson, the core of Locust Honey String Band, the two carefully crafted the arrangements and harmonies and sing so closely together you’d think they were siblings. The album also features banjo player Hilary Hawke of popular New York duo Dubl Handi (we reviewed Dubl Handi’s latest record last year).
Each member of the Locust Honey band is steeped in the old-time music of the Appalachian Mountains. They bring a huge passion for American roots and a knowledge of how the different genres of music that criss-cross Appalachia have historically intersected and influenced each other, and the music on Never Let Me Cross Your Mind is a jubilee of Southern musical traditions. From old-time string band fiddle-banjo tunes to vintage country duets, old Carter Family songs to dancehall honky-tonk numbers, the band create a wonderfully dynamic record, and it’s all tied together with finesse by artists who know the roots of the music inside and out.
The record opens with the old-time mountain bluegrass flavored “When the Whiskey’s Gone”, a lively banjo-driven tune about hard living and a troubled relationship. The song was recently featured in the film, Time Out of Mind, starring Richard Gere and directed by Oren Moverman. The pure hill country roots tune “Boogerman” is a fiddle driven instrumental, one that will have you tapping your foot along to the melody. “Boogerman” conjures up images of a good old barn dance where everyone is having a great time. There are two other instrumentals featured on this record, “Logan County Blues” and “McMiche’s Breakdown”. Both songs are energetic, fiddle-driven tunes featuring musicians at the top of their game.
“I’ve Forgotten More Than You’ll Ever Know About Him”, which turns from its 50s Western roots into a beautiful string band song, finds the narrator getting over an old flame. Locust Honey returns ‘Henry Lee’, originally written and recorded by Nick Cave, to its Appalachian roots without losing its iconoclastic nature. “Henry Lee” is one of the standouts on this record; it feels as if it was always meant to be an Appalachian roots song. George Jones’ classic ‘Just One More’ becomes a sister-harmony country song, and might I say, I am a huge Jones fan and am quite particular when it comes to covers of his songs, but Locust Honey pulls the cover off beautifully.
The band concludes Never Let Me Cross Your Mind with the bluesy roots tune, “Columbus Stockade Blues”. There’s a sense of sadness and foreboding to the song, created by the bluesy fiddle. It’s the perfect way to close out a wonderful roots record. I’d recommend this album to anyone looking for real, authentic roots music.
Originally posted here.
