A timeless collection of songs rooted in the here and now.
Nicki Bluhm knows a thing or two about life on the road having dedicated the better part of two decades as an itinerant musician. With an opportunity to step back and slow things down, she was able to translate the experience into a collection of songs that embrace the contentment and sense of belonging that comes with being grounded in one place, surrounded by friends, family and music.
Recorded in Tennessee at the home studio which gives the album its title, “Rancho Deluxe” is a collection of ten poignant and inspired songs that perfectly integrate many of Bluhm’s musical influences into one cohesive recording. Produced by Jesse Noah Wilson and bolstered by a cadre of seasoned musicians playing live, the result is a tapestry of musical styles that showcase Bluhm’s exquisite voice and melodic sensibilities in the best possible way.
The album begins in grand fashion with ‘Bay Laurel Leaves’, a lush, string-laden track with a 1960’s chanteuse air about it. There is a sense of pathos behind the gentle delivery as Bluhm tries to reconcile her feelings surrounding her current and former homes. By the time the chorus comes around, though, her soaring vocals, like a warm ocean breeze, help ease some of the sadness brought on by these conflicting emotions. It’s a lovely start to the album, but by no means indicative of what lies ahead.
‘Tumbleweed‘ veers off in a completely different direction and hits the ground running with some punchy wah-wah guitar and a solid groove from the rest of the band. It’s irresistibly catchy and a perfect vehicle to showcase Bluhm’s robust vocals. The lovely, folk-infused ‘Falling Out of Dreams‘ with its Laurel Canyon vibe, continues with the theme of slowing down, reassessing and recalibrating. Riding on a gentle, mid-tempo beat, Bluhm sings “I got a new vision where I trust my own intuition / And when that voice of worry cries out in my mind / I tell her to take it one day at a time“. ‘Cumberland Banks’ arrives mid-album, an acoustic romp with an infectious chorus that serves an ode to Bluhm’s time spent playing folk festivals with The Infamous Stringdusters. Bluhm and her band are clearly having a good time on this singalong number that is destined to become a live favourite.
Taking another left turn, ‘Change the Channel’ follows and is five and half minutes of pure cosmic country bliss. Featuring an intriguing mix of acoustic, electric and pedal steel guitar, backed with some moody mellotron, it’s not hard to imagine when Linda Ronstadt fronted Fairport Convention circa 1970 at The Troubadour sounding something like this. An album highlight for sure.
The rest of the album unfolds in similar fashion with each song showcasing a different style, or mood, but all tied together by strong songwriting, inventive arrangements and exemplary musicianship. ‘Simple Side of Me’ features a slightly poppier feel but doesn’t feel out of place amongst the other more roots-oriented tracks. Again, Bluhm extolls the virtues of a home-based lifestyle surrounded by like-minded souls when she sings “It’s a gallery of faces old and new / A family made of ones we got to choose”.
The album ends fittingly with a version of ‘Long Time to Make Old Friends’ that perfectly encapsulates, lyrically and musically, everything that has come before. The lyrics suggest that like anything worth savouring, it takes time to cultivate deep, meaningful relationships. “You give the shirt off your back / And I’ll wear it in / It’s a hand me down / It’s been around / Feels good on my skin /When the cotton wears thin / Takes a long time to make old friends”.
Musically, there are some parallels to be drawn with The Band, especially in the call and response, slightly ragged harmonies, the patchwork of assorted instruments (is that a flute I hear?), and the joyous, ragtime finish. And much like The Band did with their cross-pollination of musical influences to create a sound that was uniquely theirs, the same holds true here. Whereas you can hear various stylistic nods weaving through the songs, there is never any sense of mimicry. It all works beautifully to produce a distinct Nicki Bluhm sound. It’s a lovely, album brimming with great melodies and insightful lyrics; music worth taking the off-ramp for.
