Cary Fridley CD Review

Cary Fridley
Down South
Juba Records 809731883124
***
A highly polished album with a strong bluegrass feel
DOWN SOUTH is Cary Fridley’s second solo release and features the 7 Mile Ford band, a string band brought together for the sole purpose of this recording. Cary has, over the past fifteen years, established herself as a strong folk singer, influenced in part by her upbringing in the Virginian Mountains. Her music is heavily tinged with folk, blues, country and bluegrass. When The Levee Breaks kick starts the album in fine style. Cary instantly takes the listener back in time. Cary’s voice obviously suits old style country/bluegrass music. Her voice is captivating and adds great depth and character to the number. Pretty Saro is a song that has been passed down through the generations and is brought to life here as a duet (with Steve Trismen sharing lead vocals). An instrumental section in the middle of this number offers the listener a lovely interlude and a chance to sit back and absorb the atmosphere and magic created by Cary and Steve. Lonesome Homesick Blues is a faster number that follows on in the same theme as the previous two songs. This song is produced in such a way that it sounds like it has come straight out of the 1920’s. Shucking The Brush features the 7 Mile Band and is a wonderfully refreshing instrumental number. North Country is a slow ballad with a strong bluegrass edge. Cary’s voice is rich and once again this song is full of atmosphere. A lovely number that will please bluegrass fans enormously. Going Down South has a strong blues feel to it. Suddenly you have moved out of the mountains and are now deep in Georgia. Cary’s voice slips effortlessly from a traditional bluegrass style to blues. You Led Me To The Wrong sees a return to old style country once again. Cary gives this old ballad a face lift and although it retains its old style charm it also has a wonderfully modern feel to it possibly due to the array of modern instruments used. Come All You Fair And Tender Ladies is a delightful song that again uses an array of modern instruments to bring the song to life and to give it a more up to date feel. Cheatin’ is a carefully crafted old style country song. This is a classy number that would not sound out of place on a country album of many moons a go yet I could also see the likes of Heather Myles performing this song right now. God Don’t Like It is something or a rant about churchgoers who drink moonshine. This song is once again brought to life by the wonderful array of instruments used. I Have No Mother Now is taken from a childhood lament and is a delicate number that easily gets under the listeners skin. Making Believe sees Cary bring to life an old Kitty Wells number. Cary gives this song something of a make-over yet still allows the original sound and style of the song to shine through. A delightful song. Dolly again features the 7 Mile Ford band and is a charming fiddle tune that is sure to get the listeners toes tapping. Scotland Man sees Cary taking centre stage once again. This song has a similar style to that of God Don’t Like It. Wild Bill Jones is sung by Cary and Rob Mangum from the 7 Mile Ford band. This is a murder ballad with a strong bluegrass feel. The album ends with an interesting number called Barlow knife, which is apparently a traditional Appalachian square dance number. A lovely atmospheric number to round of a highly polished collection of largely bluegrass songs. This is an album that shines a light on many old bluegrass and country classics and gives them an updated feel yet still allows them to retain what made them special in the first place - quaint old charm.