Legendary and long-tenured bluegrass outfit
the Seldom Scene mine their own legacy on their 2014 collection
Long Timeâ?¦Seldom Scene, the group's 17th studio album and first since 2007's
Scenechronized. Since their inception in 1971, the group has seen a revolving door of membership, with founding members and their replacements coming and going, yet their strong musicianship and progressive spirit have remained a common thread throughout each incarnation of the band.
Long Time acts as both an anthology and a reunion album with a track list made up of freshly adapted renditions of some of their most requested live cuts played by the same modern-era lineup from
Scenechronized (banjo player and founding member
Ben Eldridge, dobroist
Fred Travers, guitarist
Chris Eldridge, bassist
Ronnie Simpkins, mandolinist
Lou Reid, and guitarist
Dudley Connell) with founding members
Tom Gray (bass) and
John Starling (guitar) returning to the fold. As has always been the case with
the Seldom Scene, the arrangements are smart and the performances are of the highest quality. The bright, crisp edginess of their more recent studio records is replaced by a warm, roomy sound that suggests a return to analog equipment and a more minimal microphone arrangement. It's a welcome change making tracks like "California Cottonfields" and "Big Train (From Memphis)" sound more off the cuff and full of live energy. The solo vocal performances are spot-on and the group vocals blend smoothly, especially on their 1974 classic "Wait a Minute." A guest spot from
Emmylou Harris, joining the band on her
Gram Parsons-penned classic "Hickory Wind," is also wistful and lovely highlight on this strong collection from one of bluegrass' most enduring institutions. ~ Timothy Monger
