Album Review: Alison Krauss & Union Station – Arcadia
2 min read
Alison Krauss has been a main-stay on the folk and bluegrass scene for over three decades now, and Union Station have been the driving force behind many of her most recognisable tunes. The band and her have ebbed and flowed between solo careers and other projects, most recently Alison’s second album with the legendary Robert Plant. After the longest break in the groups career – nearly fifteen years after their last album Paper Airplanes – they have returned with seventh studio album Arcadia.
The new album doesn’t change the station, but it definitely begins in expert style. Looks Like The End Of The Road is a gorgeous soft waltz with an excellent guitar solo and vocal performance from Alison. It gives a dreamlike setup to the album, a malaise that’s continued on The Hangman. Band member Russel Moore takes lead vocals, bringing a classic country twang to the largely acoustic song. It leads into the following track The Wrong Way wonderfully, a soulful ballad where Alison once again takes the reins and swoons the listener. Granite Mills was an apt single, and works even better sitting within the album. The storytelling aspect, much like folk tales of old, is compelling and well told, and musically it drives the narrative along with melodic fiddles and an excellent guitar line.
One Ray Of Shine and Richmond On The James act as polar opposite, the former a stripped back and heartfelt ballad, while the latter is a foot tapping barn-burner. They bring the country roots out of North Side Gal, a cover of JD McPherson’s 2011 song, completing the aesthetic change with a banjo solo. The vocal harmonies at the end of Forever are pitch perfect and pull at your heartstrings, while Snow brings back the fire and upbeat tempo. Final track There’s a Light Up Ahead is probably the most beautiful spot on the record, Alison’s voice soaring over the chorus while the instruments subtly harmonise. It’s a poignant and warming end to the record of many great ups and downs.
Arcadia is, in short, a flex for these veterans of the bluegrass and country scene, showing that when they want to they can pull together a compelling, uncompromising collection of tracks. There are no surprises on this album, but what it lacks in thrills it makes up for in mastery of their sound and a brilliant array of musical talent.
Writer and Musician, Ryan Bulbeck has been published with a number of online publications, and has worked with a myriad of great artists, both as a performer, and as a producer. His most recent band The 295 are still active, playing shows around the UK.
