Erynn Marshall & Carl Jones
Album: Sweet Memories …Never Leave
Label: Dittyville
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.dittyville.com

This is one of those unpretentious little gems that come out of the States from time to time completely unheralded. Wife-and-husband team Erynn and Carl are best described as inspired old-time musicians whose commitment to a life in music is both total and entirely authentic. They play and sing as to the manner born, whether it be honest and achingly classic-sounding self-penned songs or fresh renditions of repertoire favourites or soulful, vitally spirited tunes.

Both players are versatile instrumentalists (Erynn a widely respected fiddler, and Carl's highly proficient on several stringed instruments - he played mandolin in Norman Blake's Rising Fawn String Ensemble, you might remember - while they both also enjoy playing in the context of string band The Bow Benders).

Sweet Memories … Never Leave is Erynn and Carl's first duet recording, and it's a typically well-balanced collection of songs and tunes, every single one of the disc's 12 cuts embodying a gentle virtuosity and easy appeal yet also possessing plenty of substance that ensures a swift return to the replay button. Erynn and Carl are joined by their daughter Kelli and son-in-law Joel (on uke and fiddle respectively) for the storming romp Daredevil Blues midway through the CD, and Joe Dejarnette augments them on bass on a couple of tracks, but for the remainder of the time Erynn and Carl provide a full and satisfying sound with just their own playing, which is replete with intimate and lovingly detailed picking and bowing. Not to mention the gloriously natural duet vocal harmonies on songs like Convict And The Rose (drawn from the repertoire of the Blue Sky Boys), Carl's own wistful composition One Fond Adieu, and the little-known 30s number Maple On The Hill.

As can be expected from two musicians with such a close simpatico bond, the musical accompaniments are superbly well judged, and every note and nuance feels absolutely right, but with the added - and so essential - quality of natural spontaneity. The phrase "unassuming virtuosity" may be something of a critical cliché these days, but it also truthfully encapsulates the charm of this lovely record, which is a delight from start to finish, and whose sweet memories will, indeed, never leave your consciousness.

David Kidman