Following last years excellent 'Compass and Companion' release, comes 'The Memorial Hall Recordings', an exceptional disc, and all the more impressive as it's from a young artist, only on his third album.
Recorded over 3½ days in New England hall built in the 1800s to commemorate the town's local men lost in the civil war - the whole disc is presented in its original form, live, and with no overdubs. It's not an in-convert album though; the 6 piece band set up in the hall with no audience, and recorded everything they played, with the aim of presenting a disc that reflects real life, rather than an album of songs polished up in the studio.
The New England theme runs strong through the disc, every song is from a writer based in the region, and there is a brilliant trilogy of tracks relating to the Civil War ('The Drinking Gourd', 'Blue Eyed Boston Boy' and 'Dear Magnolia').
It be recorded live, but the detail and variety of textures present across the 14 songs is incredible - these are all superb musicians, and at times the only clue to live recording is the ambience of the hall. The choice of material and styles are varied, and the hours listening time really flies by, and there are far too many wonderful moments to single out (although the recording of Bill Morrissey's 'Summer Night' is exceptional). 'The Memorial Hall Recordings' is a special album, and a disc that stands out as distinct and individual from any other disc we carry. It has a real atmosphere, whether it's the hall, or the fact that it's presented 'as is' is difficult to work out, but whichever it is, this is a superb and substantial body of work that gets better the more you hear it. Practically essential. 

£12.99