Four years into a promising career, and Railroad Earth is clearly setting the cruise control. No, the band is not sinking into the doldrums of comfortableness, nor is it speeding down that road to excess; it is channeling the muse of improvisation through mostly stringed, mostly acoustic instruments with a flow that defies the early, humble intentions of playing bluegrass. With increasing vitality, the band stretches its joints on its first live release, Elko, culled during spring of 2005.
While many purists may decry the patchwork make-up of
Elko in contrast to a pure live “show” from beginning to end, the essence of the band is found both in individual compositions and the song structures that unravel as the two discs unfold, opening the door for spirited interplay between guitarist Todd Sheaffer, violinist Tim Carbone, multi-instrumentalist Andy Goessling, bassist Johnny Grubb, mandolinist John Skehan and drummer Carey Harmon. “Long Way to Go” and “Bird in a House” shine early in the collection, boasting more traditional undertones and succinct explorations within finite structures. But cohesion eventually leads beyond all boundaries, reaching a pinnacle during the bombastic “Warhead Boogie” well into the second disc. Clocking in at over 15 minutes, the track is marked by a warm shuffle that disintegrates into oblivion.
Railroad Earth may have made a benchmark live album, one that pulls back the acoustic exterior to reveal a world of textures and an adventurous drive that eclipses its studio work with its depth. Yet, even through sprawling meditations that hit crescendo after crescendo, it is clear that live is the only way to experience some of the jaunts outside of musical bounds, and on rare occasions, the band unsuccessfully flirts with excess. But with a good set of headphones and closed eyes, Elko can almost entirely deliver the Railroad Earth experience.
For more info see: railroadearth.com
