Beat the Devil and Carry a Rail

As a member of the progressive bluegrass band the Punch Brothers, banjo player Noam Pikelny has made a name for himself at the cutting edge, and this CD confirms it. With the strong focus of a studio recording, all the energy of a live recording and some exciting guest appearances, this is a remarkable second solo album. There are some lovely tracks, where both Pikelny’s songwriting skills and his expressive playing shine out, supported by an excellent band of bass, mandolin, fiddle, guitar and dobro (played by none other than Jerry Douglas). ‘The Broken Drought’ is a melancholic and waltzing tune in which banjo, dobro and fiddle twine together perfectly. ‘All Git Out’ is a more classic bluegrass tune and Pikelny’s racing picking is awe-inspiring, with fiddle and dobro solos also teetering on the edge. The tunes feel improvised but hold together well, packed with energy and adrenaline.

There are some old-time standards, including a funky arrangement of ‘Cluck Old Hen’ featuring Steve Martin on banjo, but the album’s really special moments lie in the guest vocals. ‘Bob McKinney’, featuring Tim O'Brien on vocals and guitar, is a cheerful arrangement of an old-time rag, but the highlight is ‘Fish and Bird’, featuring Crooked Still’s misty-voiced singer Aoife O'Donovan. Pikelny stands back from the spotlight and singer and band conspire to create magic on this heartfelt Tom Waits song. It’s one of a number of treasures on an inspiring album.