Harpath Rising has been getting great notices in folk / Americana circles. The music is an enjoyable mash-up of folk, country, blue grass, and Classical (yep!) influences, without being any of those things in particular. Leaders are Jordana Greenberg on violin and Rebecca Reed-Lunn on banjo. Both women sing strong lead and harmony parts, and share the songwriting. A cello and a subtle hand drum back them up. Fun record.

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1 Mid fast, peppy jig. Celtic-sounding folk song with an American West theme. (5:25)
2 * Mid slow. Pretty melody, lovely singing. Violin sounds country, cello Classical. (3:38)
3 Slow, cowboy ballad. Good harmony singing. A bit dreary & tedious. (4:23)
4 ** Mid slow, folk ballad. Woman, gone to Cali in the Gold Rush, wants to return home. Singing is goose-bump gorgeous. Violin solo in the middle is very nice. (5:10)
5 *** Fast, exciting & stirring. Very fine harmony singing. Nice cello solo midway. (3:30)
6 Mid tempo. Complex story w weird Dylan-esque characters. Good banjo picking. (4:46)
7 ** Epitomizes the group’s approach: good harmony singing, good strings. I can imagine Alison Kraus singing this. (3:34)
8 * Fast. Campfire-song fun. Ode to a trusty car. Great banjo picking. A Turkey-in-the-Straw fiddle solo. As silly novelty songs go, this is a good one. (6:05)
9 By Canadian folkie Stan Rodgers. Good, but not as interesting as other mat’l here. (4:35)
10 * Mid-tempo, but urgent. Interesting for intense, angry tone. Cello is excellent. (4:40)