NEW ALBUM: ELIZA GILKYSON ~ Songs from the River Wind

[Ruby]

ELIZA GILKYSON ~ Songs from the River Wind



I really like some of Eliza Gilkyson’s stuff – wasn’t enamoured of her 2020 album which was politically oriented and this is not that, thank goodness. It’s an album inspired by the Old West, which I don’t hate, although it does get a bit yeeha in places for my personal taste. Also something of a tribute to her father, Tony Gilkyson, who had a folk band called the Easy Riders. I can hear what she’s doing, so it’s fine – I understand where she’s coming from and totally respect that – she knows how to evoke atmosphere and how to conjure up a mood, which is admirable, IMHO, even if one does not necessarily fall in love with the whole offering. I wonder if MH would enjoy this one? 

Nothing at all wrong with the execution, in fact the production is great, if I'm hearing correctly – a mix of traditional songs, covers and one or two originals that really do summon up the feeling of times gone by – she can undisputedly tell a tale or two (would love to see her and Grant-Lee Phillips collaborate – they’d make a good musical team, methinks!). She has some compadres along for the ride – The Rifters, fiddler Warren Hood and mandolinist Kym Warner.  I do like some of these, I confess - there's something sort of comfortable and well-worn about a few of the tracks - one feels at home in them. The two that stand out the most for me are her own very dreamy, retro sounding “Don’t Stop Lovin’ Me” –





… and “Bristlecone Pine” which was written by one Hugh Prestwood and first recorded by Michael Johnson. Lovely. And I learned something new, about Bristlecone Pines, which are venerable trees indeed! https://www.britannica.com/plant/bristlecone-pine 

I also listened to the original version of this song, so struck was I by both the tune and the lyrics, which are wonderful – very impressed with Michael Johnson’s voice and guitar playing – gorgeous timbre - had never heard of him before – he’s gone now – 2017, and I hope he is somehow under one of those trees! Here’s the original … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEalVBUaquw

Eliza’s rendition … I do feel justice was done here too … 

[R_burke]

Nice, thanks for posting

[CRAZY-HORSE]

nice description of the album and a lovely linked track.

[Ruby]

Nice, thanks for posting

The pleasure is all mine! Thanks for responding.

[Ruby]

nice description of the album and a lovely linked track.

I'm obsessing over that track - it really grabbed hold of me! 

[Ruby]

I told my brother about this song not knowing that bristlecone pines have a special meaning for him – he says they were instrumental in his enlightenment as a scientist. Anyway, he also told me this story - that some time back, a young dendrochronologist had gone to the reserve where these rare trees grow, to take samples with his borer and read the rings of these ancient organisms. The borer got stuck in one tree and he couldn’t get it out, so the tale goes, and whether for that reason, or another (it’s a little unclear and a lot controversial!), he cut that tree down. The felled tree turned out to be close to 5,000 years old! He must have been mortified beyond belief! It was older than Methuselah, the oldest documented bristlecone pine at the time which was known to be 4,700 and something. His name has gone down in infamy for sure! The fallen one was named Prometheus and one can view slices of it, apparently.

Later, an even older tree was found – over 5,000 years, and there are possibly more – just think - they'd have been saplings at the time the pyramids were built – it’s astonishing. Their location is kept secret and I’m delighted to know that. At least there won’t be someone carving out their initials in the ages old bark. And someone would do just that – guaranteed.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

^^
great story Ruby...

i read somewhere long ago that there is a plant somewhere in a Tasmanian forest that is estimated to be between 40,000-130,000 years old.
not sure of the technicalities of it all or even what it is called though.

[Ruby]

^It is isn't it? 

The technicalities - bristlecones are non-clonal organisms which basically put means that both roots and trunk are one individual and have grown together, at the same time. There is way older rootstock on earth - the quaking aspens for one. More if you're interested ... https://futurism.com/meet-the-oldest-trees-on-earth

[CRAZY-HORSE]

thanks for the reading material Ruby.