Heather Bristow
Album: Ragged Souls
Label: Heifer
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.heatherbristow.com

American born singer-songwriter, Heather Bristow has just released her sophomore album, "Ragged Souls" on her own, unusually named, Heifer Records. The sequel to the well received, "Hope On The Vine", makes a strong feature of British Bluegrass musician, Leon Hunt as well as a multitude of talent from her side of the pond. The dates that she's playing here also make use of the Carrivick Sisters, so there's no disputing her knowledge of British Bluegrass, which may also go someway to explaining a slightly Anglicised feel to a couple of the tracks.

Another guest on the album is Mollie O'Brien and it comes as no surprise that she's the harmoniser on the much more gospel influenced, "Passport To Heaven". In fact whilst the majority of this album could be said to be in a bluegrass vein, it's certainly not exclusively in that mode as country, folk and aforementioned gospel all make their presence felt.

As with her flirtation with musical styles, Bristow, casts quite a wide net with her songwriting, drawing on songs that are of a personal nature and mixing them with songs that are far more society based. Likewise she can switch from songs rich in detail to songs that are far more a flavour, it takes rare talent to write with such quality across that sort of range.

There is a real spiritual timbre to Heather's voice, one that gives "Ragged Souls" a very uplifting, almost life affirming quality. The musicianship across the album is quite simply top draw and all of those factors come together to make an album that is very easy to recommend, not only for bluegrass fans, but also those of the wider Americana church.

Neil King