Various Artists
Album: Another Day, Another Time: Celebrating The Music Of "Inside Llewyn Davis"
Label: Nonesuch
Tracks: 34
Website: http://www.nonesuch.com

This is a fairly obscure release that almost passed me by, and I'm glad it didn't in the end! For those not in the know, the Coen Brothers movie Inside Llewyn Davis is the story of a fictional American musician of that name active in the early 1960s around the Greenwich Village scene, in other words the time immediately following the McCarthy hearings (all available information seems to imply that the inspiration for the character was the legendary Dave Van Ronk). The music of the movie was celebrated at a one-off concert held at New York City's Town Hall, I believe a year ago last autumn, which was filmed for a documentary; the soundtrack recording of this gig, produced by T Bone Burnett, is now issued here on this well-filled two-disc set.

The music performed in the movie included many of the folk songs that had survived the McCarthy hearings: some were old and almost traditional, while some had then only just been written but had the air of tradition. The roll-call of performers included musicians who had appeared in the movie, but also others who were known to have a sympathy for the songs and/or the era. Inevitably, there's a touch of the ragbag feel about the gig, although there's no denying the sense of occasion, or the enthusiasm of the performances or the crowd. Maybe I wouldn't exactly single out any of the renditions as superlative or must-have, but equally none are a disgrace either, and I guess it'll be up to the listener to decide whether his/her individual candle is lit by the likes of Jack White, Marcus Mumford, the Avett Brothers, Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst and The Decemberists' Colin Meloy, all of whom in my opinion are something of an acquired taste with their quite idiosyncratic vocal styles.

I can't argue with their movie/concert interpretations of the likes of Joe Hill, Four Strong Winds or Blues Run The Game, but these can be classed more as capable "occasion" performances rather than lasting-collection treasures. More satisfying for me are the tremendous appearances by Rhiannon Giddens (eminently versatile on the traditional Waterboy, from the repertoire of Odetta, and a seriously barnstorming, roof-raising rendition of a brace of Gaelic waulking songs). One can't argue with anything done by the winning team of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, nor the star of the actual movie itself Oscar Isaac (Hang Me, Oh Hang Me), while Keb Mo turns in a well-judged cameo Dylan cover (Tomorrow Is A Long Time), 60s veteran Bob Neuwirth clearly relishes Utah Phillips' Rock Salt And Nails, and Joan Baez and Dirk Powell tackle House Of The Rising Sun perfectly credibly.

The Secret Sisters' self-penned Tomorrow Will Be Kinder provides a likeable contrast, but Elvis Costello's riotous Please Mr Kennedy and Punch Brothers' romp through Brendan Behan's The Auld Triangle seem over-jokey (maybe you just had to be there…). I gather the DVD of the movie contains some different personnel, but can't comment further as I've not actually seen the movie. Still, the set as a whole does have its moments, and it's worth hearing.

David Kidman