EMMYLOU HARRIS

Spyboy (Grapevine)

ANYONE WHO saw the combination of Emmylou Harris and Spyboy in action live will know just how good this album should be – and is.

While there has been some debate as to which was the better Spyboy line-up, my money’s on the Buddy Miller incarnation – no disrespect to his alternate, Daniel Lanois, at all, but I think Buddy is a better all-rounder for the material involved and he adds his own excellent voice to the mix. Indeed, the vital blending of Emmylou’s voice with his is the best since her grievous but glorious days with Gram. Then you have the remarkable and funky interplay between drummer Brady Blade and bassist Daryl Johnson, which begs the question as to why there aren’t more black players in country music.

The playing throughout is exemplary and the song-choice spans her whole career, from ‘Love Hurts’ (originally done with Parsons), through her tribute to him, ‘Boulder To Birmingham’ to ‘All My Tears’ and ‘Deeper Well’ from Wrecking Ball. ‘The Maker’, which closes the album in fine style, is a new Lanois song. The music encompasses the breathtaking accapella of ‘Calling My Children Home’ and the full-on attack of ‘Deeper Well’, without overwhelming the voice or the essence of the song.

In short, Spyboy is a fitting wrap to the most recent phase of a long and fruitful career. It captures a band at the cutting edge, in every sense, of a vital blend of roots/rock/country music and beyond. As such, it is recommended to long-term fans and those who came aboard with Wrecking Ball alike. It should also serve as an invitation to explore the work of Buddy Miller in his own right. You will not be disappointed.

This is a deeper well.

Stephen Rapid