Tag: The Roving Crows

Is it even possible that Deliberate Distractions, the new album set for release by the Roving Crows, is only the group’s third album?

Clearly, the five Crows are the Irish Folk equivalent of America’s bluegrass balladeers the Punch Brothers. Each quintet’s members seamlessly meld their playing and vocals into lush tapestries of sound that takes them well beyond their assigned musical boundaries into folk, bluegrass, country, and jazz. The only reason the Crows’ don’t have the mega acclaim the Punch Brothers and some other better known fusion groups have garnered comes down to three things: Location, location, location.

Yes, it’s mighty tough, as any musician based outside the U.S. will likely tell you, to establish a hard-core American fan base. But once you do, it can take off like a runaway train. (The Pogues and Steeleye Span, anyone?)

If there’s any justice in the cosmos, Deliberate Distractions will alert the U.S. and the rest of the world that the Crows’ are perhaps Ireland’s best-kept musical secret.

Think that’s a bit of overkill? Just tune into the first track of the new album “Journeyman’s Blues” that starts with something akin to a Gregorian chant — to my ears anyway — and extends into a blues-folk-bluegrass sound  seasoned with Caitlin Barrett’s virtuoso fiddling and songwriter/front man’s Paul O’Neill’s jaunty lyrics that tell the wild tales of a young man’s love-‘em-and-try-to-leave-‘em life.

Truthfully, I’m not usually a fan of the trumpet in folk fusion music but, as usual with the Crows, Greg Wilson-Copp’s masterful playing makes it a welcome and crucial addition to the arrangement.

What’s truly exciting about the nine songs on this album is the mix of tempos and intricate arrangements. You’ll hear that on such tunes as “Rollin’ Home,” one of several reflecting on romantic love. Although the tune starts out mid-tempo and a bit dark, the up-tempo fiddle, drums and horn at the end morph into a fantastic reel that is impossible not to want to hear again and again.

And the string work by O’Neill and bassist Loz Shaw added to the take-charge yet fluid drumming by Tim Tolhurst on “Familiar Man,” a song about the hidden individual behind a façade, adds a nice dose of soft rock/pop before Barrett’s fiddle leads the merry band of musicians back to folk.

It’s easy to picture the Roving Crows’ music gathering speed with each successive album and tour. Clearly, the Roving Crows are the next Folk Super Group in waiting. NANCY DUNHAM

Artist Web link: http://www.rovingcrows.com/