Dry Branch Fire Squad have been making music together since 1976 and they've only gotten better with age. Their instrumentation is undeniably incredible, energetic, and impressive. The songs they've chosen for Echoes of the Mountains include traditional bluegrass and old timey songs, as well as more contemporary numbers and classic style country music.
Shape-Shifting Bluegrass Music
As if Dry Branch's exquisite instrumentation weren't enough to fill a CD with great performances, they've brought in master fiddler Michael Cleveland (Flamekeeper) to round out two tracks. The disc's opening tune, "Dixie Cowboy" (purchase/download) is one on which Cleveland delivers most impressively.
What the band does best is bring various styles together for one seamless collection of songs. There's the swinging cover of "Bring It on Home to Me" (purchase/download), the stellar a capella gospel of "Power in the Blood" (purchase/download), the silliness of "(You Got to Pray to the Lord) When You See Those Flying Saucers" (purchase/download), and the old timey folkiness of "O Captain! My Captain!" (purchase/download) It takes a special synergy to shape-shift from song to song without losing something in the mix, but Dry Branch Fire Squad manages to do so with ease and aplomb. This is sure to be one of the bluegrass must-have discs of the year.
