Tim O'Brien & Darrell Scott
Album: Memories And Moments
Label: Full Skies
Tracks: 14
Website: http://www.timanddarrell.com

I really don't know where this one's been hiding! It came out well over a year ago and for some reason didn't get reviewed at the time. Well, I could best put that down to the fact that it's all too easy for promo CDs to get bundled in a pile and laid aside, especially when they're housed in thin cardboard sleeves with no identifying readable and fileable spine. End of moan…

Enough to say that this is very probably the finest collection from this particular musical partnership so far in an already lengthy and illustrious career, during which they've both continued to participate in a bewildering number of sessions and side-projects in addition to their busy solo work. Anything these guy produce is likely to be beyond criticism in terms of quality of playing and songwriting, and they really can't seem to put a foot (or should I say finger?) wrong - this new set (an inordinately belated studio sequel to Tim and Darrell's 2000 duo album Real Time - with only the intervening live set We're Usually A Lot Better Than This for an appetite-whetting stopgap) being no exception to that rule, containing scintillating, expert, highly versatile string dexterity and plenty of helpfully varied complementary instrumentation, while both musicians are in excellent singing voice throughout, with superb harmonies and uncannily responsive interplay (which Tim rather aptly describes as "a pretty good game of ping-pong!).

This generously-filled disc presents five songs apiece from the two protagonists, plus a spirited writing collaboration in the form of the traditional-sounding Keep Your Dirty Lights On. It would be invidious to single out any of these new songs for special mention, but it'd be hard to beat the opening pair (Time To Talk To Joseph and It All Comes Down To Love), or Tim's atmospheric Brother Wind or Appalachian-flavoured The Well, or Darrell's fervent gospeller On Life's Other Side or Fiddler Jones. Talking of the latter appellation, the remaining tracks include an idiomatic George Jones cover (Just One More), a standout reworking of Hank Williams' Alone And Forsaken, and a new rendition of John Prine's classic Paradise which features its writer guesting on guitar and vocals.

But hey, as face-to-face records go, they really don't come any better than Memories And Moments, a true authentic meeting-place of old-time, folk and country.

David Kidman