Harpeth Rising
Album: Shifted
Label: Grimm Rising
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.harpethrising.com

In the autumn of 2012, I reviewed The End Of The World, Harpeth Rising's third CD, on which the lineup comprised banjoist Rebecca Reed-Lunn, cellist Maria Di Meglio, guitarist David Greenberg and percussionist Chris Burgess. Things would appear to have altered somewhat since then, with the release of two further albums (2013's Tales From Jackson Bridge and a 2014 live set - sadly, neither of which were received for review) heralding a significant change in complement.

The press sheet for Shifted (billed as album number five), declares this latest offering "a debut of sorts: their first as a trio", and lists the personnel as having shifted and downsized, with Rebecca and Maria now joined by David Greenberg's daughter Jordana, who plays violin. Thus the signature sound-world of the trio is now a touch different - if anything even more dynamic I'd say, and certainly a very distinctive blend indeed, one that embraces strong elements of folk, newgrass and classical, all knit together and pushed upfront with an entirely believable surplus of conviction and confidence. The combination of violin and cello inevitably brings more of a chamber-classical feel to the proceedings at times, but it's a vigorous and fulsomely appealing take and the various instrumental embellishments and incidental bridge-passages are superbly inventive with unexpected progressions and flourishes; the new Harpeth Rising sound is truly resplendent, each instrument fabulously full-toned and faithfully reproduced with no need for studio enhancement or multitracking. The icing on the already rich instrumental cake is provided by Jordana's strong lead vocal and some gorgeous supporting harmonies.

As for the trio's repertoire: although this still consists almost exclusively of self-penned material, it's now Jordana who's fearlessly taken on the role of band lyricist (she's solely responsible for nine of the tracks here, plus one - the Book Of Revelations-based parable Seven Thunders - that's jointly-written with David her father), the remaining tracks being David's rootsy The Raid - a long-time family staple whose tune's a dead ringer for Lowell George's Willin' - and a well-fitting cover of Leonard Cohen's Dance Me To The End Of Love (opening track of mid-80s Various Positions, the same album that contained Hallelujah). Jordana's own songs expound her uncompromising, right-minded philosophy, whose largely positive outlook empowers the listener. Proof is a tribute to her mother's unending wisdom, while Rollin' To You traverses familiar territory in extolling the virtues of returning to home and family. Changes in reality and our perception of it over the course of time are addressed on Fortune, The Borderline and the disc's title song. Jordana's sanguine stance also proves unafraid to invoke irony (Providence and Good Ideas) or even satirical dystopia (Well, Hell). With its variations of tempo and approaches, Shifted makes a great collection of songs seductively and persuasively delivered; Harpeth Rising should surely be on your must-see list when they embark on a six-week tour of the UK starting next month.

David Kidman