Review: Rattlin' Bones

So, in my first music review, I’m going to declare, in perhaps an overly diligent fashion, my biases upfront.

I have always been a lover of strong melodies, tightly woven harmonies and image filled lyrics that convey passion or empathy for who we are as people. Not workers. Not partners. Not in any category other than human.

I’ve turned countless pages of songbooks looking for those melodies that really convey the emotion, and listened to countless albums, old and new, looking for the magic that happens through the combination of melody, harmony, lyrics and musicians who leave mere competence behind, to communicate a feeling, a moment, a passion.

So, with my declaration of bias out of the way, it was a joy (and a surprise) to listen to Rattlin’ Bones, a collaboration between Kasey Chambers and her husband Shane Nicholson.

The opening riff, played on the resonator guitar is slightly dissonant, slightly modal and very intriguing. When Chambers and Nicholson’s vocals enter, perfectly together — not so much as a harmony, but a double melody, you know the song is going to be good.

What you don’t know is that all of the album is good. Hooked on the first riff, I became hooked on the whole album.

Musically, it moves effortlessly through a bluegrass feel in Rattlin' Bones and Oh Woe Is Mine, to a classic country feel in Once in a While, into darkness in Wildflower, almost prayer like in No One Hurts Up Here and a touch of understated funk in Jackson Hole.

Vocally, Chambers and Nicholson move effortlessly around, and within, the songs, with neither of them dominating, and each one being essential to the tunes.

Lyrically, it’s rich in vivid images: sorrow scratching at the door; a recurrence of wires — balancing on them and being caught in them; wildflowers juxtaposed again old men; and the usual religious images of country music — devil, sin, and perhaps redemption.

Best of all, however, it’s more than a well crafted full album of simple, but effective intertwined melodies. It’s heartfelt.

Nominated in this year’s ARIA awards for the Best Album and Best Country album, it’s sure to have a good chance to win. Irrespective of whether it wins, it’s worth a listen. You can get a taste from www.kaseyandshane.com. Enjoy!

— Sarajane

Sarajane is a keen music listener, as well as being a performer of folk, celtic and bluegrass music as both a vocalist and instrumentalist with Selkie Music.

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