The Clover Valley Boys – Self-Titled
This is a charming set of Appalachian-style folk & classic country that actually sounds like a cleaned-up 78 from the 1930s. “Bum Bum Blues” starts this fresh showcase with the singers sounding genuinely vintage in execution, style & sound. It may not be for everyone, but it has a gratifying feel about it. The CD cover would benefit from a sepia public domain image of antique musicians to lend a more authentic sell. The 2nd tune is equally energetic on “Going To Georgia” with bright fiddle playing & enthusiastic vocals. I’m impressed by how the recording maintains a deep retro sound with clarity & distinguished playing without coming off too campy. The instrumentalists are skillful.
The 13 archival tracks by the New Orleans-based street buskers recorded their tunes at Red Hook in Brooklyn, NY as their self-titled debut (Drops August 21/Jalopy Records/37:43). Despite the recording locale, the musicians are the real thing. George Aschmann (vocals/fiddle) is from Virginia between the Blue Ridge Mountains & Shenandoah Valley. Coleman Akin (vocals/steel guitar/guitar/fiddle/mandolin) hails from Johnson City, TN. Mo Kinney (vocals/guitar/banjo) from Atlanta, GA. The group got its name from Dollar General’s in-house Clover Valley brand. You can’t make this up.
There are a few novelty-oriented tunes to lighten things up, but everything is faithful to the genre, some yodeling & plain guitar strumming with no fancy picking. But the tunes are fun, danceable, & nostalgic. The surprise after a few country oldies & ballads is “Window Pane Blues” rendered with an air of dusty blues, spilled beer with skill, fiddles & aching vocals. It isn’t Robert Johnson, but it’s in that neighborhood. Quite a good blues tune with the accent on fiddles instead of a plucking guitar. This song is a wild hoot. And it fits between any old traditional blues, including Johnson’s, Blind Lemon Jefferson, or Charley Patton.
You may have to be in the mood for some romps, but in a coffee shop, café, or wine tasting hub, songs like “Memphis Stomp” will go down as smooth as the latte. And people who don’t get it, they’ll be the ones tapping their feet under the table. Guaranteed. These musicians have music that they’ve “lived-in” since they hopped freight trains, got arrested & spent Christmas in the hoosegow.
An exceptional, spirited 1937 vocal piece is “Sparkling Blue Eyes,” covered by the likes of Webb Pierce, George Jones, Doc Watson, Wanda Jackson, & Waylon Jennings. For creative fiddling, you’ll find some interesting bowing sounds on “New Lost Train Blues.” There are some interesting textures at work here. Close your eyes, listen, & take a vacation in the past with this showcase.
Highlights – “Bum Bum Blues,” “Going To Georgia,” “Window Pane Blues,” “Memphis Stomp,” “Sparkling Blue Eyes,” & “New Lost Train Blues.”
Color image from the band’s website. CD @ Amazon & Bandcamp + https://www.clovervalleyboys.com/ & https://nicklosseatonmedia.com/new-orleans-pre-war-folk-trio-the-clover-valley-boys-trade-the-streets-for-the-studio-on-self-titled-debut-out-august-21/