Bonny Light Horseman (from the album Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free

Bonny Light Horseman (from the album Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free

Bonny Light Horseman (from the album Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free on Jagjaguwar) (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Bonny Light Horseman, an outfit consisting of Anaïs Mitchell, Eric D. Johnson, and Josh Kaufman, as well as drummer JT Bates and bassist Cameron Ralston, often seem to defy description. Their music blends elements of Gothic-like nuance, a Folkish noir, and a sense of mystery and mystique that occasionally keep it at arm’s length, but at other times, intimate and intriguing as well.
 
Many of the songs take on a haunting, and occasionally harrowing, sound and circumstance, but with a remarkable 20 tracks in all, the overall effect is quietly compelling. The new album shares a distinctive aural ambiance that’s fully and completely captivating, even in its more tender moments. Mitchell’s softly seductive vocals dominate the proceedings, giving songs such as “Keep Me on Your Mind”, “Lover Take It Easy”, “The Clover”, and “Singing to the Mandolin” a gentle yet beguiling quality that wafts and glides throughout the entire album. The shared harmonies from Johnson and Kaufman add to the allure, making several of these passages akin to lullabies of sorts, both soothing and satisfying. Happily, though, there’s an occasional uptick in energy, as when “Old Dutch” quietly builds to its ultimate crescendo, or “Hare and Hound” takes on a hint of twang, tempo, and the semblance of a backwoods hoedown. Likewise, “Tumblin’ Down” moves along at a steady stride, making it one of the album’s most immediately engaging entries.
 
Despite the spare settings, the melodies are lovely, descriptive, and seemingly iridescent. Even songs such as “Don’t Know Why You Move Me”, a love-struck ballad filled with reflection and romance, and the memories spun through “When I Was Younger” manage to find context and connection. So too, “Speak to Me Muse” come across with a Gospel-like fervor that gives the track both clarity and conviction.
 
Taken in tandem, Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free adds to the impression that Bonny Light Horseman are, in fact, one of the more essential outfits operating within the current acoustic parameters. When, on the song “I Wanna Be Where You Are”, they close with a chorus echoing the title, that entreaty rates a warm welcome.  (by Lee Zimmerman)
 
Listen and buy the music of Bonny Light Horseman from AMAZON
 
For more information, please visit the Bonny Light Horseman website