Best known as a member of the duo Larry & Joe and Che Apalache, Joe Troop, a self-described “activist,” makes a decisive move away from the bounds of those two ensembles and introduces a new bluegrass collaboration he dubs The Truth Machine. True to the name, the band’s new five song EP shares songs that deal with social justice, peaceful protest, and the universal need to embrace love and compassion.
Troop’s previous efforts have found him melding Pan American folk music with his journeyman bluegrass instincts. Yet in this case, he opts for activism and a refusal to turn his back on causes that he finds both pertinent and personal.
The band — which includes Troop (banjo, guitar, vocals), Lu Furtado (guitar, vocals), Malia Furtado (fiddle), Olivia Fernandez (mandolin, vocals) and Jimmy Washington (bass) — entwine music and meaning, but their songs remain faithful to the old-time tradition which is central to basics of bluegrass.
The impression one gets from a song like Billionaires is akin to something once shared by Woody Guthrie, a down-home delivery designed to convey common sense and an earnest intent.
“Across this big ole country
From sea to shining sea
Now’s the time to make a changeC
all on the Truth Machine!”
In that regard, the tender ballad, Mercy For Migrants, offers a gentle appeal of its own, one that calls for care and compassion at a time when those qualities are in short supply.
Two songs in particular, Runnin’ From the Weather and Overdrive, pick up the pace and incorporate high harmonies in ways that reflect more of an old-time approach. Sweet Pea conveys its own sweet serenity by placing an emphasis on entertainment and enjoyment.
In that regard, the messaging sometimes seems more or less secondary to the music.
Still, if judged on its overall merits, Joe Troop & The Truth Machine is a worthy addition to Troop’s considerable catalog – bold bluegrass from the heart.
