THE LOVELL SISTERS —TIME TO GROW (Own Label)

[Maurice Hope]

www.lovellsisters.com
www.musikkoperatorene.no
When it comes to country, bluegrass dashed with a little folk awash in vibrant qualities, then the Georgia-born and raised Lovell Sisters; Rebecca (mandolin, finger style, acoustic guitar, djembe and lead vocals), Megan (resophonic guitar, lap steel and vocals) and Jessica (fiddle, glockenspiel and lead vocals) aided by Matthew Wingate (acoustic guitar), Victor Krauss (upright bass), John Gardner (drums, percussion), Jeff Taylor (accordion), Paul Franklin (pedal steel) and on cello, John Catchings produce a solid and thoughtful sound.
On utilising all their respective talent, Dobro, mandolin, fiddle, lead and vocal harmonies in particular Time To Grow, follows in the footsteps of their debut album, When Forever Rolls Along and Live At The Philadelphia (DVD/CD) as their ability is further underlined.

Time and time again the listener is left stunned by the quality as such clear and beautiful efforts as ripping instrumental ‘Ichetucknee Chutney’ and melancholy ‘The Door In The Wall’ and ‘We’re All The Way’ (Dar Williams) give way to wistful odes ‘Distance’ and the lap steel loaded ‘You Remain’. Good stuff, but after a greater study I am left thinking do they really need to record such a large proportion of heartache filled songs! Going back in time the girls take in a remake of Eric Katz’s beautiful ‘Blowin’ Away’ —as covered by Linda Ronstadt in the mid-1970s and, though lacking the passion of Ronstadt it is nevertheless a good choice.

Easing away from the melancholy theme, a little, we have the ramblin free as a bird ‘Time To Grow’. That has Rebecca on lead vocals accompanied by lavish Dobro, fiddle and a nice touch on mandolin as it like with a superb version of the old blues gospel piece ‘In My Time Of Dyin’ has them lift the bar to suggest they could one day be running alongside the likes of Baskery. All they need to do know is let their innovative flair be given an opportunity to blossom and every now and again, run riot!
Maurice Hope






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