'Can You Hear Me?' is The Hillbenders second long player, and follows on from 2010's 'Down To My Last Dollar'. The band was formed in 2008 and comprises Chad Graves on dobro and backing vocals, Gary Rea on bass and backing vocals, Jim Rea on guitar and lead vocals, Mark Cassidy on banjo and lead vocals, and Nolan Lawrence on mandolin and lead vocals (each of the lead vocalists take turns on various tracks throughout the album). The band plays a frantic bluegrass style which is immediately infectious, but also manages to incorporate various elements of rock 'n' roll, jazz and Americana, which basically means that the listener is in for an aural treat.
The opening track, 'Train Whistle' is a great opener, an excellent shot of acoustic country, with lyrics that define a wanderlust and search for adventure: - “Spin the globe, wherever it stops I'm going, hit the map with this dart in my hand/Gonna blow this train whistle, 'til I find out who I am.”
One thing that struck me about this track is how accomplished and tight the band was musically, all instruments blend in perfectly to create a sound which was full without sounding cluttered.
For me, the best track was about halfway through the album. 'Spinning in Circles' is extremely well thought out, and details the struggles of people as they go through their daily lives, with unrealised dreams, never quite managing to make it. It is a song that will have a resonance with virtually everyone.
“She was born to be a dancer, just like Fred Astaire/ Twisting and turning moving her body through the air/ When the sun goes down, she gets behind the bar/ Pouring drinks for the lonely, oh but someday she'll be a star/ But she's spinning in circles, going nowhere fast, spinning in circles...Spinning in circles, living in the past, spinning in circles”.
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What makes this track is that lives are detailed with failures, but it never wallows in self pity, and with some excellent banjo and vocal harmonies, this is a sure fire winner.
Elsewhere, the band is not afraid to step out of their comfort zone, with 'Gettysburg' a nearly five minute instrumental, which showcases each band member's talents. This is a perfect track to listen to in the car when on a long journey up the motorway.
This CD was released in the US back in 2012, but has only just hit the UK with a European release. It is easily available from The Hillbenders online.
The band is looking to tour the UK and Ireland early in 2015, which will be their first time on these shores. This is a band well worth investing in, and on the strength of this CD, I believe the live shows will be great.
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