Back to country music, with a legendary figure. The overall style of this album recalls the earlier folk/country of the Louvins, Marty Robbins, and Merle Haggard, and the whole album forms a murder ballad song cycle, about a man who kills his wife and lover and then wanders the land seeking redemption. Somewhat against type, he finds it again, despite being haunted by the memory of his dead wife.
The musical arrangement is delicate
gossamer, Nelson on acoustic guitar with light accompaniment. At times this
veers into jazz, with pianist (and elder sister) Bobbie Nelson going into a
jazz/blues jam on Remember Me, and drummer Billy English giving soft jazz
drumming, especially on Time Of The Preacher. The album is sprinkled with Grand
Ole Opry style tunes, many of which last no more than around 40 seconds. I was
listening to this via YouTube and sometimes the adverts I had to suffer through
lasted longer than the tracks – not the best way to appreciate it.
With the short tracks, the acoustic
arrangement, and the overall sad tone of the album, it’s a thing of delicate
beauty, like one of Dolly Parton’s beloved butterflies. But about murder and
loneliness, as you’d expect from country music. Since this was closer to the
more folk style of Let The Circle Be Unbroken and not the steel guitars of the Bakersfield style, it’s much more up my
street.
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