Rating:
Genre:
Folk
Release Date: 04/21/1998
Run Time: 56:47
If you like folk music and have ever lived in Los Angeles, chances are you know the names
Roz and
Howard Larman. Their
FolkScene radio show on
KPFK has been an L.A. institution since 1970, and one of its highlights has been visits to the studio by just about everybody you can think of from the world of folk. There have been more than 1, 500 such guest appearances over the history of the show, so this 13-track CD of
FolkScene performances from the 1990s barely scratches the surface. Still, it's a start, and a fine one. The sound quality is amazingly good, especially considering that the disc contains unvarnished live recordings, with no overdubbing or "fixing in the mix" later on. Noteworthy performances include
Bruce Cockburn's
"Pacing the Cage," Kate and
Anna McGarrigle's
"Goin' Back to Harlan," Richard Thompson's
"Waltzing's for Dreamers" and
Mary Black's
"Columbus." The best track, though, is
Iris Dement's
"Our Town," a self-penned ode to a dying hometown with an aching, heartfelt vocal that will stay with you after the singing has ended.
~Jeff Burger, All Music Guide