Ghosts

Where many enthusiasts of string-band music play with the period-correct discipline of Civil War re-creationists, this humble quartet offers a refreshing take on Appalachian folk and classic Americana. If Birds Could Fly hails from Big Stone Gap, Va., and although the band's traditional country/folk instruments and rustic tones are rooted in the past, Ghosts abounds with original songcraft. This is apparent from the folk-rocking opener “When I’m Gone.” Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Brittany Ashley inflects with a deep and womanly croon. At times it sounds like she’s channeling a younger version of the late Karen Dalton—especially in more haunting songs like “Midnight Cigarette,” where her bandmates’ feckless backing vocals add depth. Throughout Ghosts, the electric guitar tones resonate with an exquisite richness. It's especially noticeable in the outstanding “We Got Love,” where what sounds like a twangy Telecaster waltzes with a weepy pedal steel. Over this, Ashley holds court with the lovelorn, singing in a Dolly Parton–inspired quaver. Impressive instrumentation aside, stripped-down songs like “White Wings” prove the most powerful.