With their 2013 debut EP Went to the Well, The Misty Mountain String Band sought to showcase the diversity of string band music.
Brownsboro is a multi-faceted exploration much like its predecessor Went to the Well, but it’s more focused and tempered from the band’s two years of performing.
Eight tracks on their debut are originals and things are rounded out by fine versions of the great John Hartford’s “Steam Powered Aeroplane” and the 19th century hymn “Everlasting Arms”.
The two instrumentals are subtle and engaging rather than “look at me and how fast I can play” while the songs are held together by yearning and hope. Whether it’s a testament to love in…
…“Ship in a Bottle”, the reality check of “Long Haul” (which also has a ridiculously catchy tune) or the anticipation of hearth and lover in “Coming Home”, these are thoughtful pieces that have something to say. The four vocals blend together perfectly, the playing is top-notch and the whole thing is a delight from start to finish.