Dear Companion

Call it modern Appalachian. There are overt shades of old-time Appalachian music in “Something, Somewhere, Sometime,” “Try,” and the title track, but most of the album conjures a feel for the place without directly referencing its specific musical vocabulary. The tunes are as rich and varied as the performers. Sollee is a classically trained cellist (he was once part of the Sparrow Quartet with Bela Fleck) and he puts his chops to work in many interesting and unexpected ways. Moore is a folky singer-songwriter with a smooth, pleasing voice and keen ear for melody. The interplay between acoustic guitar, banjo, and cello is moving and mesmerizing, especially on the dreamy acoustic folk of “My Wealth Comes to Me,” “Only a Song,” and “Flyrock Blues,” ballads like the soothing “It Won’t Be Long,” and the gentle instrumental “Flyrock #2.” Further contributions are made by fellow- Kentucky native Jim James of My Morning Jacket, who produced the album and added some guitar and backing vocals. Filled with intriguing, poetic lyrics and inspired musicianship, this is a gorgeous album that comes across like a labor of love.