This eponymously titled disc is yet another offering from the fairly deep wellspring that is the exceptionally diverse music scene in and around Athens, Georgia. This is a first work for the ensemble Short Road Home and as such is exceptionally well produced, for which credit rightly goes to Eric Friar on the boards. The 15-song set takes the listener through pretty traditional territory, featuring some pretty splendid instrumental and vocal work along the way.

We open with the pairing of "Harvest Home/Galway Hornpipe" driven by the accordion of Ken Ross and Dale Weschler's fiddle. The second tune is the stately air, "Jock O'Hazeldean," given life by Noel Beverley's strong vocals, Rich Mullinax's harmonic support and the keening pennywhistle of Paul Matthews, all framed nicely by an acoustic guitar opening rendered with authority by Daniel Promislow. A little further on is the best of the set, the simply wonderful pairing "Flowers for Mamie Wylie/The Secret Wedding," which features sterling work by Ross on accordion, Promislow on guitar and Matthews on pennywhistle.

This is followed by a strong up-tempo read of the classic "Lark in the Morning," anchored by Promislow's guitar, and a stately rendition of "Red is the Rose," with Matthews' vocal nicely balanced by Promislow's vocal harmonies. An alternate melody and the driving drums of Andrew Hunt power a spirited version of "Bonaparte's Retreat," which also features Matthews on pennywhistle and Weschler on fiddle. Further along, "Estonian Waltz" provides a change of pace, and features some nice exchanges between Beverley on mandolin and Ross on accordion. Yet a bit later, the "Ballydesmond Polka" allows the whole ensemble to stretch out their chops, anchored this time by the sonorous bass work of Rich Mullinax and featuring a stong turn on pennywhistle by Emily Matthews (Paul's sister).

Driven by all the players, paced by some snappy tambourine, the dance ends with a shout, as all good accelerating polkas should. The set closer is a cover of the haunting Jay Ungar tune, "Ashokan Farewell," given new life inside of the strong accordion work of Ross, and powered by the fiddle and guitar of Weschler and Promislow.

Here, then, is the first offering from Short Road Home. The road may indeed be short, but there is plenty to engage the traveler along the way, and as the name suggests, the end of the road brings one happily home. I might wish for all listeners such a pleasant journey.

by Gilbert Head
Rambles.NET
5 August 2006