New Frontier (Compass Records, 2013)
Bassist, vocalist and composer Missy Raines is one of the celebrated talents of the contemporary bluegrass scene. Her 2013 album, titled New Frontier, still contains some of that bluegrass essence, although she adds a strong electric element in the form of slow drawn-out indie rock guitar inspired by the Smiths.
Even though you’ll find occasional great solos throughout the album, New Frontier is essentially a vocal album, showcasing Raines ability as a singer. The bluegrass jam and jazz explorations of previous recordings have been replaced by engaging songs with a rock sensibility. The material on the album includes songs written by Pierce Pettis, Sarah Siskind, Ed Snodderly, Zach Bevill and Raines herself.
The lineup on New Frontier includes guitarist and co-producer Ethan Ballinger, mandolinist Jarrod Walker, drummer Josh Fox and Raines on vocals and upright bass. Guest appearances include Sam Bush, The Farewell Drifters’ Zach Bevill and former New Hip percussionist Robert Crawford.
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
