A couple of weeks ago, a parcel was delivered to my post box. In it was a copy of “The Journey Home”. What a fine sonic journey it is.
Jen Osha is the Producer of “The Journey Home” and founder and President of Aurora Lights , a non profit dedicated to the preservation of West Virginia and ending mountain top removal mining. A cause close to the heart of our network. This is the second CD released for the cause. It’s beautiful!
Tha album (showing my vintage calling it an album) opens with a great example of what Appalachian music is about. “The Long Journey Home” by Everett Lilly and the Lilly Mountaineers is some fun pickin. Mandolin, guitars, fiddle and double bass. Just cooks along like riding down a mountain road. Followed by “Mountain Song” by The Del McCoury Band levels out to the first valley nicely. The banjo, mando and fiddle work are magic. I love this kind of playing. An ensamble opening little holes to allow one voice to sing out. These first two tracks set the mood for a great album.Track 3, “Clear Cut” by Blue Highway is driven by vocals, vocals, and more vocals. All without any pitch correction nonsense. Organic, pure, beautiful.
Next up, “Cabin Creek Hollow” Ben Gilmer, Very Blues influenced, Even a bit of a rock attack on the steel string. Power and Passion, just the way I like it. “Made by Hand” by Andrew McNight, Chance McCoy, Les Thompson is a story teller song. The fiddle solo gave me goosebumps. This is a truly wonderful piece of writing, arranging and execution. It may just be my favorite on the album
Chorus
I know that times are changing, they say progress is good
but do we honor honest work, like my granddaddy would
the eagle soaring high, would he recognize this land
built upon the sturdy backs, of those who made by hand
Kathy Mattea’s “Blue Diamond Mines” follows on with the story telling. More somber than “Made by Hand”. Once again, brilliant vocals. Is there anything better than harmony?
The album continues as follows:
7. Who Brought the Flood?
Debra Cowan
8. Shumate Dam
Osha, Samples and Farsetta / Interview with Debbie Jarrell, Rock Creek, WV
9. Buffalo Creek
Mike Morningstar
10. State of the Art
The Lonetones / Interview with Bo Webb, Peachtree, WV
11. Sweet Appalachia
Alan Johnston and South 52
12. Mountains of Blues
Keith and Joan Pitzer / Interview with Danny Williams, Clay’s Branch, WV
13. Appalachian Soul
Great American Taxi
14. Debbie Jarrell, Rock Creek, and Gary Anderson, Colcord
15. Ed Wiley, Rock Creek
16. Kathy Mattea
17. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr
18. Scale Down
R.I.S.E. (formerly Rising Appalachia)
I could go on track by track gushing. Deadlines prevent me from doing so. In the words of Australia’s Godfather of music Molly Meldrum, “Do Yourself a Favour!”. Go get “The Journey Home” from Still Moving Mountains. You will be glad you did. Not only will you support those who fight to save the oldest mountains on mother earth, you will have beautiful sounds to enrich your life. Real people, real stories, real music.
Thanks to Jen Osha and all involved in this project for the wonderful gift of music.
