Our Lady of the Tall Trees

Cahalen Morrison & Eli West’s sophomore album carries the endorsement of Tim O’Brien, which might lead you to expect its music to be firmly in the bluegrass camp. But Our Lady of the Trees goes beyond familiar ‘grassy terrain to explore less well-traveled regions, invoking echoes of 19th-century parlor music and old-time Celtic tunes. Morrison’s songwriting displays both a strong poetic streak and a feel for nostalgic melodies reminiscent of The Band and American Beauty–era Grateful Dead. Tunes like “A Lady Does Not Often Falter,” “All I Can Do," and “Heartland Sea” contain striking imagery that invokes a world both genteel and rough-hewn. The album’s title track betrays a mystical reverence for the natural world. The music here is equally evocative, carried by the duo’s deft acoustic playing and impeccably matched vocal harmonies. Intriguing covers of Townes Van Zandt’s bittersweet “Loretta” and Norman Blake’s genial “Church Street Blues” complement the original tunes. A luminous rendition of Garry Harrison’s “Red Prairie Dawn” adds a lovely final touch to an album rich with fine picking, emotive singing, and songs that conjure visions of centuries gone by.