Never judge by appearances. This CD with simple graphics, almost humble, completely self-produced, introduces us to an english duo who demonstrate great expertise in the field of independent songwriting. Kevin Barber and Mark Taylor, both composers and excellent instrumentalists, have played together for some years and have their roots firmly in traditional american music, in country, in bluegrass, but are also singer/songwriters who produce a sound reminiscent of virtuosi like Bill Frisell and Ry Cooder. These inspirations are found in ‘Lately’ where the two alternate vocals and move between a remarkable number of instruments giving life to a delicious mix of roots music, travelling in a few moments from gentle electric openings, to sad autumnal shades typical of singer/songwriter material and stirred by bluegrass rhythms. Their songs would not disgrace the songbooks of better known artists particularly ‘The Price of Freedom’, a sparse and desolate ballad, ‘Lighthouse’, gentle and relaxed weaving between dobro and guitar, ‘Lately’ introspective and melancholy, ‘My Old Friend The Moon’ with its pleasing vocal harmonies woven into the embroidery of the acoustics. Even the various covers are treated with taste and respect and result in pleasing versions: ‘The Boxer’ (Paul Simon) with a mandolin giving a distinct bluegrass feel, ‘Vigilante Man (Woody Guthrie) the sound of the banjo lifting the rhythm and raising the emotional level, ‘Two Seconds’ (Robert McCreedy) two guitars and two voices only but no less enchanting for this. A CD that despite it’s simplicity and modesty is more enjoyable than many other better known and highly praised offerings but which, alas, lack the substance found here. Recommended.

(Gabriele Buvoli, Roots Highway)

Brighton-based duo Kevin Barber and Mark Taylor are one of those totally-together acts that sound for all the world like they've been playing and singing together almost from birth. Typically they play an attractively melancholy brand of acoustic-based, guitarsome bluegrassy Americana, with around two-thirds of their material self-penned and the remainder made up of respectable (if not consistently outstanding) covers of (on this, their third CD) songs by Albert E. Brumley, Woody Guthrie and Paul Simon (gripe: it's a shame they didn't choose some more appropriate covers like the Gillian Welch and Iris Dement stuff they perform live), and Robert McCreedy (his Two Seconds, the best by far of the covers here). But I liked this record a lot, and even though it's primarily the vocal harmonies and tight arrangements that make the impact on first hearing the songs stand up to scrutiny and grow on repeated listening. Standouts for me included the opener My Old Friend The Moon, the somewhat Kieran Halpin-like The Price Of Freedom, and Lighthouse (coincidentally, these are all Kevin's compositions). Generally there's a very satisfying ambience about the duo's music, and it's couched in an accomplishment that's easy-going yet not without a quality of thoughtful depth and immediacy of inspiration. With top-flight recording quality reflecting the duo's close, intimate yet dynamic live presence, this is a treasurable release that deserves wider recognition.

David Kidman   www.netrhythms.co.uk

ROOTSTIME: (This is a Belgian roots music site although the review is written in Dutch. If you want a laugh, put it through an online translator like BABELFISH and see if you can work out what it says!!!)

"............ a beautiful roots CD. A CD which from the first note to the last deserves to be heard."

Freddy Celis  www.rootstime.be/