Archive Valley weave an earnest passion for traditional American folk, with a love of classical and jazz music.

Their latest release is a rare breed; authentic, but also brimming with ingenuous innovation. As soon as the opening chords rang out on the claw hammer banjo for the title track ‘Day Is Over,’ I could tell that this was going to be a quality album.

The tune ‘The Mayor Comes to Town’ highlights their inspired composition skills. A quirky upbeat bluegrass melody opens the track, later to be accompanied by grooving Indian tabla. After a breakdown, a soaring bowed double bass melody takes the lead before re-emerging into an upbeat tempo, setting the pace for a neo-classical/jazz piano solo. The focus and integrity maintained throughout these disparate changes is remarkable and a real credit to the musicianship of these performers.

As well as exploring their more experimental original material, there are some American classics thrown in for good measure. Their rendition of ‘Tennessee Waltz’ is relatively true to form (despite three key changes!) with beautiful vocal harmonies and American folk arrangements. Similarly, the banjo-led version of the gospel track ‘Down By The Riverside’ is safer ground for any traditionalists among us.

Playful, innovative, and sincere, Archive Valley have created a brilliant album. Experimental, yet rooted in tradition; these contrasts have an almost cinematic quality. For lovers of Old-Time and Bluegrass music who perhaps want to hear something a bit more outside the box, I’m sure you’ll be impressed and intrigued by Archive Valley’s latest offering.

Buy "Day is Over" here on BANDCAMP

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