Run Boy Run
Album: Something To Someone
Label: Sky Island Records
Tracks: 11
Website: https://www.runboyrunband.com

This is a gem. Run Boy Run, hailing from Tucson, Arizona, formed in 2009 and conquered all-comers to win the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival top-band award a couple of years later; a little over 18 months ago, they released their debut album So Sang The Whippoorwill, which by all accounts was heavily acclaimed, but why it never came under my radar is a complete mystery (hell, the band even got onto Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion show last year!).

Anyway, Run Boy Run is a close-knit outfit with a highly distinctive sound that once heard is never forgotten. Vocally, it's characterised by bright, fresh-toned singing (no less than three superb female leads, with lovely, intuitive harmonies in tow, often recalling the Wailin' Jennys or vintage McGarrigles). Instrumentally, it's centred around beautiful, wonderfully rich, fulsome string textures (primarily fiddles and cello, with mandolin and a touch of guitar) all anchored by a very strong upright bass presence; there are times when the sonic blend owes almost as much to a viol consort or classical string ensemble as to an old-time string band. This quartet may wear its old-time and bluegrass influences proudly, but at the same time they really deliver captivating originality on this album-full of exceptional songs. All but one of these are band-member-penned, and range in style and tempo from the scintillating rush of opening track Under The Boughs to the deliciously pacey A Dream In The Night, the insistently devotional Spin A Golden Thread and the stately brooding of The Lord Taketh Away; then there's the youthfully coquettish, slightly jazzy Locket, contrasting with the eerie title number; this is succeeded by the glorious disc finale, a medley of Far From My Home and the sprightly stepdance Lion And The Fawn, which as well as containing some particularly gorgeous singing spotlights the flatfooting skills of guest Charmaine Slaven. There's also one instrumental cut, the dancing jig-like Sunday For Larks, more Percy Grainger or Roger De Coverley than Vaughan Williams admittedly but a true delight nevertheless.

I honestly can't find fault with the music on this album, except perhaps (and here I'm nitpicking) in terms of the actual recording. This could arguably have done with a touch more presence to enable the lyrics to penetrate the rich textures with more precision (although the actual arrangements are commendably spacious, with intelligent separation of frequencies and registers). Also, on occasion, the stomping bass lines feel just a little too insistently prominent. Finally - and this is probably more of a reflection on how my mind works! - I can't help remarking that the name Run Boy Run carries an almost-palindromic connotation that kinda reflects the rather special interpersonal-sibling mix of the band members: this involves brother and sister Matt and Grace Rolland, alongside sisters Jen Sandoval and Bekah Sandoval Rolland, with the lineup completed by Jesse Allen on bass. I'm not entirely sure, but I'd guess that the lead vocal on each song is taken by its writer - in which case, that means the lion's share (four songs) falling to Bekah, with Jen and Matt each contributing two and Grace and Jesse one apiece.

Either way, this CD is both brilliantly consistent and utterly delicious.

David Kidman