Bluegrass based, plied with country and jazz UK (Bristol) four-piece Appalachia are a wonderfully, clean and sharp synchronised unit awash in innovative creativity.
Made up of James Slater (guitar, harmonica), Richard Burley (guitar, mandolin), Danny Ward (guitar, banjo) and Doug Hamilton (upright bass) with all members doing a stint on lead vocals this is a well distributed and tight as a drum unit.
Apart from Hamilton, the band is entirely British. From the moment Slater leads the boys through the title track “Judgement Day” the music flows, freely, and with the harmony vocals a credit to any genre the listener is spoilt. Well and truly. The song has a hint or two of Sam Bush, John Cowan and their band New Grass Revival, and through bluegrass music is prominent it doesn’t take complete control. Since Hamilton’s lazy 1920’s jazz pled “Lazy Evening” and heart-wrenching ballad “Pass It On” (Ward) and social conscience “Politicians And Bankers” and all-fired up blues boogie “This Train” figure among the album’s eight vocal tracks as much ground is covered.
Hamilton’s second song “Let Me Dream Of You” like his other contribution, “Lazy Evening” it isn’t a sprint but a tender, beautifully woven love song. Loaded in mandolin (lead instrument), acoustic guitar, upright bass and complimentary harmony vocals a wonderful tranquil feel exudes from first note to last. A hard act to follow, that’s for sure,
Final track on the record is an instrumental version of the title song, while the final vocal “Up On The Mountain” is another fine entry from Slater, and with the song’s simple, well crafted lyrics enjoy banjo accompaniment and tasty harmonies to go with his accomplished lead vocals, the magical sound that opens the record sees its way all the way through to the end. Great work boys! Not many bands from the other side of the pond could match this album never mind better it!
Maurice Hope