Know The Mountain

Hannah Shira Naiman, “Know the Mountain”
Label: Merriweather Records, Ltd
Reviewed by: Kim Walter, November 2016

Young storyteller/folk singer steeped in bluegrass and other musical influences. Clear, beautiful voice. Mix of “nonsense” type songs from her youth with weightier themes, such as murder and jilted love. Best vocal trick: THE GIRL CAN YODEL!
My favorites: 2, 4, 7, 8, 10. 11

1. 5:18 slow/med- album namesake- clear, pure vocals
2. 3:13 slow- beautiful fiddle with subtle alpine yodeling in a slow waltz
3. 2:32 med- instrumental fiddle tune
4. 3:54 slow- story of murder, or “murder ballad”
5. 3:14 med- early song inspired by children’s series Ant & Bee
6. 3:32 slow/med – bluegrass ballad
7. 4:33 slow – most traditional (scottish) sounding ballad, nice vocal harmonies
8. 3:34 med- bluegrass ballad about murder and rage in the rain
9. 3:00 med- instrumental banjo and fiddle dominate
10. 3:09 med- traditional song by the Gandy Dancers of West Virginia
11. 4:09 slow/med- nonsense song about farm in Va. Nice imagery
12. 3:12 slow/med- fun song about two fish. Good end, last words= I’m coming home