Grassoline
Album: Here But Not At Home Vol. 1 EP
Label: Shillito
Tracks: 4
Website: http://www.grassoline.co.uk

Grassoline is a well-regarded folk-Americana outfit whose tender, gently driven and lightly scored music rather confounds expectations fostered by its five-strong complement (led by singer/guitarist Jonathan Tilley, and also involving Thomas Barnett on mandolin, banjo and harmonica, Annie Botham on violin, Chris Sheldon on dobro and lap steel and Bob Richards on double bass). Here But Not At Home Vol 1 is, as the title implies, the first of a series of releases (in this case a trilogy of CDs) destined to appear at short intervals over the space of the next year or so.

Grassoline's stock-in-trade is exquisite, jewel-like songs of a seriously pindrop nature, predominantly taken at a relaxed tempo, languid but never uninvolved. Only on the animated To A Blind Man does the tempo rise above the melancholic waltzer - but this proves no sticking point, and the whole EP is nothing short of mesmerising. There's also limited contributions from a couple of extra musicians (notably Rip Heeley on drums), but the main focus is on Tilley's nasal vocal, which fits the smoother contours of the carefully coordinated musical backdrops like a glove. And the studio production ensures faithful transmission of the intensity of the band's rootsy bluegrass ethic. Sparse textures are the order of the day, that is until the second half of October Old, with its fuller-blown string section and backbeat combo providing the song's extended coda.

If the final two EPs in Grassoline's projected trilogy are as captivating as this first foray, then I'll be more than happy - so bring 'em on!

David Kidman