Town And Country

Up Above

[5/5] An interesting listen beckons when you have to Google about half the instruments listed in a CD’s sleeve notes (karkabas, khaen or guimbri, anybody?). Such is the case with Up Above, Town And Country’s sixth–and best–album. Just in time for the freak-folk movement’s close-up, T&C dignify what some derisively call “hillbilly” and “academic” music. At Up Above’s core is a love of drones forged with the aforementioned exotic percussion, wind and string instruments that shiver your inner holy (wo)man. The spangly, meditative acoustic-guitar wizardry of folk legend John Fahey also animates this divine disc. Tune in and hear the light.
((THRILL JOCKEY) Dave Segal