Traditional acoustic music has always been known for its superbly simple melodies and lyrics that tell a story. Many of these stories are rooted in brutal honesty, which is a major reason why this musical form has such deep appeal for listeners. Unspoken Tradition’s latest release, Heartwood from Mountain Home Music Company, doesn’t shy away from the hard hitting realities of life.
This is most certainly the case with the album’s opening track, Refugee. Written by Aaron Bibelhauser, this song displays the raw, unvarnished struggles of an immigrant attempting to make a life for themselves in a land that struggles to welcome them. Along with Audie McGinnis on guitar and lead vocals, the group also consists of Sav Sankaran on bass and harmony vocals, Tim Gardner on fiddle and harmony vocals, and Zane McGinnis on banjo.
Other selections such as Company Man, by Tim Stafford and Mark Bumgarner, talk of one’s challenges working in a factory trying to make ends meet, while Rhythm of the Ridge by Milan Miller tells a lighter, yet relatable tale about one’s affinity for the Appalachian mountains and the culture which comes from those who make their home there. This latter track features strong, unique lead vocals from Sav Sankaran.
Two of the nine tracks are interpretations of well-loved material. All The Gold In California was made a country hit by the Gatlin Brothers in 1979, and is given a driving bluegrass treatment here. Barbara Allen on the other hand is a traditional folk song that’s performed in a darker vein than ever before, in large part due to the arrangement by mandolinist Ty Gilpin, who also sings lead on this song.
Heartwood encompasses everything we’ve come to love and expect from a traditionally oriented genre such as bluegrass. It’s blatantly honest, using refined storytelling, and is relatable to a wide segment of listeners. Unspoken Tradition has effectively captured all of those elements with this release.
