Reviews
Artist:Buster Sledge Album: Nice Time On Earth
Label: Helio
Tracks: 12
Website: https://www.bustersledge.com/
The wonderfully named Buster Sledge are Michael Barrett Donovan, lead vocals and fiddle, Mikael Jonassen, vocals and banjo, Jakob Folke Ossum vocals and guitar and Vidar Starheimsaeter vocals and bass, are three Norwegian musicians and a Norway based West Coast American. Together they play infectious, dexterous acoustic music, heavily influenced by Country, American Old Time and Bluegrass.
With each of the players having their own rich musical background, NICE TIME ON EARTH, the quartet's latest album is a very interesting listen. "Way Too Pretty" is gentle old time music with a slow swing and wark harmony vocals. What sets it apart from the many is Donovan's rapid delivery when singing, slow on the chorus and dense in the verses it is, something to behold. "Cold Wet Blanket" and "Spring In Her Step" have the feel of warm up-tempo western swing, with strong vocals and some furious banjo and fiddle playing. "Last Day Of The Worst Year" has a fine fiddle banjo tune and some superb wordplay. There is mastery in the almost jazz scat singer way Donovan skips through 'If you're cool with me calling i'm cool with you not picking up'. "Saddle Up The Fence" is an exercise in furious tempo playing that just flies. Vocal harmonies and Mikael's banjo are a delight, as is Michael spitting out poetry like Lyle Lovett played at the wrong speed. "Fall Like Crumbs" is slower and soulful with some eerie fiddle from Donovan and beautifully tender band vocals as both the lyrics and their delivery build tension.
"Warm And Stupid" is a triumph and another surprise, a slow soulful love song. Reflective and full of personal detail it has that gentlle crooned warmth of the best of classic Lambchop. "New Sock" is a playful piece with some lush and dexterous band vocals on both this and the next track. The surreal but philosophical lyrics of "New Shoes" reminded me of a blue grass Paul Simon. There is a Grappelli and Reinhardt cafe jazz, edge to the guitar and fiddle on "Charm The Gods That Made Us" as well as another fine vocal from Donovan. "Jesus Bugs" has a strong rhythm from a jazzy bass and Jakob's guitar, creating bounce behind Michael's nostalgic backroads poetry. Poetic too is the love poetry of "Endless Shiver". The band are restrained on this final number, around the lush lullaby vocals and vivid words. By turns up-tempo then thoughtful, Buster Sledge use their masterful musicianship to both dazzle and soothe. An absolute feast.
Marc Higgins
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