Never Let Me Cross Your Mind

Rip-roaring old-time music, with a few country surprises. This all-female ensemble tag their repertoire as ‘heart-breakin’ country harmonies and raging old time fiddle tunes,’ and they certainly practice what they post. Even fresh originals such as the album's opener, ‘When the Whiskey's Gone’ by fiddler and vocalist Chloe Edmonstone manages to successfully emulate old-time values. A pair of Carter Family tunes are delivered by Edmonstone, Ariel Dixon, and Meredith Watson in close vocal harmonies highly evocative of the Carters. Dixon also performs on guitar or banjo, Watson on standard or resonator guitar, and neither the vocals nor the instrumental work are ever affected or showy. These feisty women are a relief from the most successful of contemporary bluegrass groups, who too often let both their production and their performance get in the way of the repertoire.

The set-list for this self-produced album also includes covers of country classics by Kitty Wells and George Jones, as well as traditional breakdowns and dance tunes. Edmonstone’s forceful approach to her fiddle is particularly engaging, and she’s ably backed by Andy Deaver Edmonstone on bass.