The South Carolina-based gospel band Eighteen Mile has released their first album, Peace Be Still (Mountain Home Music), filled with deeply felt original songs in a contemporary bluegrass style. Half of the songs were written by vocalist Carson Aaron.
Savannah Aaron, married to Carson, provides very pretty fiddle work that especially shines on What Mercy Means. The song has a nice lilting groove on the chorus and a message of grace and forgiveness.
Bassist Hallie Ritter penned and sings Above the Clouds, which climbed to #1 on the Bluegrass Today gospel radio charts. It’s the collection’s standout track, with Hallie’s attractive voice singing words of assurance set to a beautiful melody:
This old world can’t hold me down
I’ve got another life I’ve found
And a greater God
This old rain can’t change my mind
I know the sun will always shine
Above the clouds
Hallie’s brother, Jack Ritter, plays banjo and wrote the title track, which is kicked off by one of guest reso-guitarist Rob Ickes’ distinctive solos. Andy Leftwich did a great job producing the album and adds his fiddle to two tracks, as well as filling in on guitar, mandolin, and mandola. The album was nicely recorded and mixed by Dave Hagen at Dark Horse Recording in Franklin, TN.
The band came to Andy’s attention when he produced an album for the Steve Pettit Band. The current members of Eighteen Mile were at that time playing a support role in that ministry-focused group, but now are striking out on their own. Steve plays mandolin on all but one track, so it’s a reunion of sorts.
Emily Guy does some lovely singing on four songs, especially on Perfect Love, one of Carson’s compositions. His songs are well-constructed and inspirational, with interesting chord progressions.
Although they are original songs, several draw heavily on traditional sources: Calvary’s River borrows almost the entire chorus from the folk hymn Down to the River [or Valley] to Pray, and at one point Perfect Love uses the text of the hymn Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. No Greater Love begins with the line, “Oh, what wondrous love is this?” There is a long history in traditional music of this kind of quotation, but it would be a nice touch to see sources acknowledged on the album cover, especially in the first two cases.
Carson’s He’s Not Done is very catchy, well-arranged, and one of the best of the original songs, but does assume a bit of knowledge of scripture. “He takes up His towel and gives you His best” might be a bit mysterious to someone not familiar with the story of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. The song still delivers a strong message of hope and expectation.
The band turns in a faithful and bluegrass-y reading of Ron Block’s He’s Holding On to Me, sung nicely by Jack. Hallie really nails the bass sound this song requires. One other cover closes the album, a slowed-down version of Irish Christian artists Kristyn and Keith Getty’s Living Waters. It’s a good way to sum up the calming and positive tone of the project.
Peace Be Still is a strong first effort by a band that is clearly committed to spreading a message of faith and salvation. Be watching for more from this young band!
