Fate can be an interesting topic. You can accept it as the reason things happen, or question whether you can change it. In the case of lifelong friends Molly Rochelson and Sally Buice, both viewpoints feature in their sophomore album, Born Strangers. The pre-ordained side comes to bear as the Knoxville-raised women went their separate ways for a while, but came back together, tied by their love of making music together. The existential questions raise their hand in many of the songs on this record.
The stage gets figuratively set in the opening number, Woman of God. It starts with the strains of a church organ before flowing into a bluegrass, tent-revival piece about the necessity of hope. That faith requires trust in others at the other end of the CD in Through the Night. Like most of the songs, the duos vocal harmonies are featured, building to a big finish featuring electric guitar in contrast to the acoustic emphasis elsewhere. One of two songs celebrating unique personalities, the title track is more country than bluegrass. Ring Around the Moon is more banjo driven in an ode to some of the characters from their home town.
Although bluegrass and country define much of the style of the album, there are definitely inclusions of folk sensibilities. Bad Faith is a modern protest song about abortion access in their home of Tennessee. Above the Tennessee takes a bird’s eye view of the state of things where “biblical floods come once or twice a year.” Lou is one a few songs featuring a sweet pedal steel part and is a firmly held wish that some of the beauty in today’s world will still be around for a beloved niece to experience when she grows up. Ghost Show is perhaps regret, perhaps just innocence, that “we’d ride off into the sunset and the credits would roll.”
Buice and Rochelson enlisted the help of Nashville stalwart Mike Eli LoPinto to produce this record. He brought in a cadre of studio players who built singer-songwriter tunes into full band pieces. Along the way they picked up a little pop lightness to what could have gone down a melancholy path. The resulting country and bluegrass mix ends up being listenable at multiple levels. If you’re ready for some new music exploration, be sure to check out The Monvales and Born Strangers.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.