Artist: The Folk Revival Collective | Album: Roots & Branches | Release Date: February 28, 2025 | Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
This supergroup of folk musicians delivers an album that honors tradition while pushing forward. With impeccable harmonies and masterful acoustic arrangements, 'Roots & Branches' proves that folk music remains vital and relevant.
Overview
The Folk Revival Collective brings together five acclaimed musicians from different corners of the folk world: singer-songwriter Emma Hartley, bluegrass virtuoso James Chen, traditional Irish musician Seán O'Brien, Appalachian fiddler Sarah Mountain, and multi-instrumentalist David Roots. Together, they've created an album that celebrates folk music's diversity while finding common ground.
Sound and Approach
The album's title perfectly captures its approach: honoring the roots of folk tradition while exploring new branches of expression. Traditional songs sit alongside original compositions, and the arrangements blend influences from American, Irish, and English folk traditions.
Vocal Harmonies
The vocal harmonies throughout are stunning. All five members contribute vocals, and their voices blend with the kind of natural chemistry that can't be manufactured. "The Water Is Wide," a traditional song, showcases this beautifully, with voices weaving in and out in intricate patterns.
Instrumental Mastery
The instrumental work is equally impressive. Chen's banjo and Mountain's fiddle engage in spirited dialogue on "Mountain Morning," while O'Brien's uilleann pipes add haunting texture to "The Emigrant's Lament." Roots's ability to move between guitar, mandolin, and bouzouki provides a versatile foundation.
Standout Tracks
"Homecoming" is the album's emotional centerpiece, an original composition by Hartley about returning to a childhood home that no longer exists. The arrangement builds from solo voice to full ensemble, mirroring the song's journey from personal memory to universal experience.
"The Blacksmith" reimagines a traditional English ballad with Irish and Appalachian influences, demonstrating how folk traditions can enrich rather than dilute one another.
Verdict
'Roots & Branches' is a triumph of collaborative musicianship. The Folk Revival Collective has created an album that respects tradition while remaining fresh and vital. For anyone who loves acoustic music, this is essential listening.
Standout Track: "Homecoming" — emotionally devastating in the best way
For Fans Of: Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Chieftains, Gillian Welch, Alison Krauss
