There’s a lot to like, and more to love, about a new record from Michael Hurley.
The Time of the Foxgloves is Buck’s County, PA born Hurley’s first studio album in 12 years and it feels as fresh as a field of foxgloves in July and as easy as a dewy summer morning with nowhere to go. Released today on No Quarter, just before Snock’s 80th spin around the sun, a host of like-minded souls join in for a front porch sound, swinging in the breeze of Hurley’s gentle guitar and vocals:
Luke Ydstie (Upright Bass, Pump Organ, Baritone Ukulele), Kati Claborn (Banjo, Vocals), Gabrielle Macrae (Violin), Halli Anderson (Violin), Gill Landry (Banjo, Acoustic Slide Guitar), Nate Lumbard (Bass Clarinet, Xylophone, Percussion), Olaf Ydstie (Drums), Lindsay Clark (Vocals), Barry Southern (Banjo), Josephine Foster (Vocals), Betsy Nichols (Vocals).
A harvest crew. Track 8, “Jacob’s Ladder,” featuring Josephine Foster on accompanying vocals, makes me swoon.
If you enjoy roots music played by an older master & friends, its time for The Time of the Foxgloves.