The term ‘super group’ is often tossed around like discarded
confetti, but occasionally a trio of gold leaves settle on the ground. Sara
Watkins, Aoife O’Donovan and Sarah Jarosz are three of the most faultless
artists making music on the folk ‘n’ roots Americana scene. Their impromptu collaboration
at the Telluride Festival in 2014 gave birth to a ‘super group’ with intent and
time was taken out from busy individual schedules to play a series of shows
under the banner I’m With Her. From personal experience, these shows were an extraordinary
demonstration of gifted musicianship, both in terms of instrumental competency
and vocal bliss. With this sure fire successful aspect in the bag, the next
stage was to commit something to record and spread the word further afield.
Nearly four years after that initial jam, SEE YOU AROUND has seen the light of
day and verdict can be passed on whether the term ‘super group’ is justified.
Of course, such terms are pure hyperbole and the efforts
committed to this record do suggest how difficult it is to replicate solo
success in a shared environment. Ultimately, many listens to this album has
thrown up the conundrum of who owns a record and the very nature of
collaboration versus independence. What struck me is how similar their voices
are, great for harmonies, but a touch confusing when splitting the hairs should
that be a desired activity. If anything, all three artists have retracted to
the pure roots of their sound, in contrast to the last album from Sara Watkins
where she impressively branched out in experimental mode. As predicted, the
twelve songs skate along like intrinsic fine art in its purest form. Each
artist appears to major on their selected instruments and the production
ensures a spatial pallet for mandolin, fiddle, banjo and piano to spar with the
vocals is created.
While the natural synergy is evident, the search for a hook
takes a little longer to grasp. Eventually, track #9 in ‘Overland’ comes to the mantle and uses its Americana overtures to attach
itself to the coat hangers in your mind. Other notable insertions into the
album involve a mid-placed instrumental titled ‘Waitsfield’, given a very live feel to the recording, and the
previously unreleased Gillian Welch song ‘Hundred
Miles’, given a vocally unaccompanied start before emerging as a credible
album closer.
There is a neat piece of acknowledgment in choosing a
Gillian Welch song, as she was an important pioneer in making old time music
cool at the turn of the millennium. Sara, Sarah and Aoife have definitely
feasted on this in their several different formats, of which I’m With Her is
likely to be a mere staging post in three very long and prosperous careers.
Opening tracks ‘See
You Around’ and ‘Game to Lose’
have been siphoned off as promotional pieces, but I keep being drawn to songs
at the back end of the album (apologies for being in CD mode, vinyl lovers)
such as those already mentioned and others like ‘Ryland (Under the Apple Tree)’ and ‘Crescent City’.
The appeal to this album is its simplistic nature and the
way three seamless talents have been blended. Its accomplished status is
secured and it will be lauded by passionate advocates of the roots scene.
Whether it breaks through a glass case into the wider world is open to debate,
although it is pertinent to state that neither Sara Watkins, Aoife O’Donovan
nor Sarah Jarosz have exposed any evidence to date of electing to compromise.
Long may this remain, and let the mainstream come to them rather court
popularity.
Let us park any ‘super group’ analogy on one side for the summary, but not before a final thought of it possibly emerging as a ‘Trio for the 2010s’. SEE YOU AROUND will make a mark upon its release and if you want to compare the record with the stage show then plenty of opportunities to see them live are emerging. Sara Watkins, Aoife O’Donovan and Sarah Jarosz will be around for a very long time making fine music, but 2018 for them will be defined by I’m With Her.