Buttermilk Brine
Dream Cabin Sounds, 2022
http://www.farrowandthepeachleaves.com
REVIEW BY: Tom Haugen
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 05/26/2023
Nevada City, California band Farrow & The Peach Leaves play a varied brand of Americana that’s indebted to country, blues and rock’n’roll across these nine tunes that were recorded live to tape by the always impressive Jack Shirley.
The cozy album opens with glowing pedal steel, before loud bursts of rugged country rock enter amid the gritty singing and well timed loud-versus-soft moments. “All Blue” follows, and it thumps with a dense version of roots rock that’s melodic, raw and immediately memorable.
The remainder of the first half is just as superb, where the flowing acoustic guitar of “When You Find It” is met with thicker ideas of alt-rock, while the title track flirts with folk-rock that’s got plenty of retro spirit and twang, too. “Madrid Sky” then finds itself in piano balladry, where poetic singing and dreamy guitar help the tune build into a cathartic setting.
On the back half, “Hole In My Boot” is heavy on mood with spirited organ and some classic rock bouts, and “Done With It” heads right into aching, reflective, powerful country that tugs on the heart strings. “Bell Run,” a late-album highlight, then gets dance floor friendly, where rhythm and melody are met with ruggedness and an undeniable energy.
The band consists of Graham Farrow Knibb (vocals, acoustic and electric guitar), Leif Bonfis (bass, backing vocals), Justin Peach (acoustic and electric guitar), Hunter Jones (pedal steel, keyboards, organ), Zach Peach (drums, percussion, backing vcoals) and Keith Knibb (electric guitar). This is their sophomore album, and though there’s legions of artists playing similar music, this sextet might just be the best doing it today. If your interests fall in the area of classic country or alt-country, there’s much to enjoy here.