It’s been eight long years since Gillian Welch’s last solo full length album Soul Journey, and since then the unassuming queen of “American Primitive” (a blend of Americana, bluegrass, early country and traditional Appalachian mountain folk) has invested in many projects, most notably her longstanding collaboration with Dave Rawlings. So it’s no surprise that this literate singer/multi-instrumentalist documented the barren turned bountiful process of songcraft in the title of her new album The Harrow & The Harvest. Here Welch returns to the sparse sounds of her earliest works, employing guitars, banjos, harmonica, and the occasional knee slap, all to stunning effect. The Harrow & The Harvest is simply another masterpiece of enduring beauty. While a brilliant collection through and through, notable singles include the opener “Scarlet Town”, “Tennessee” and the closing track “The Way the Whole Thing Ends.” – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Dave Rawlings Machine, Justin Townes Earle, Jolie Holland, Old Crow Medicine Show, Lucinda Williams