Here’s the latest video from americana trio Turn Turn Turn. The band features Savannah Smith on vocals and guitar, Barb Brynstad on vocals and bass, and Adam Levy on vocals and guitar. Collectively, the three are known for their masterful reinterpretation of roots genres and styles and, in particular, their soaring harmonies. Manitowoc is delightfully tuneful, built around delicate acoustic guitar with a touch of twang. Central to the song are the beautiful, heavenly harmonies and vocal interplay between the band members, their voices rising lightly amidst sweet notes of pedal steel from Joe Savage.
The Minnesota/Wisconsin band’s third album, All Hat No Cattle, was recorded in Levy’s home studio. He says of his approach to producing the record: “I wanted this record to feel fresh and not overproduced. It’s very much au naturel; mistakes were left in. It has a rustic feel, like many of my favorite records. Chris Furst did a magnificent job mixing it.” The songs take listeners on a musical journey through various forms of American roots music, from Western Gothic to bluegrass, honky tonk to folk balladry, and more. Barb Brynstad explains: “We wanted the music from our third album to feel like a road trip across time and place in America. Expect echoes of Dylan, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, George Jones, The Louvins, Emmylou Harris, and Gram Parsons—but with a fresh, original twist.” It’s an apt description of music that sounds and feels timeless.
Moving away from the psychedelic country of the first two albums, this time around the trio has focused on a more stripped-back acoustic approach, including flourishes of banjo, mandolin, pedal steel, and guitars. Indeed, Levy, who plays most of the stringed instruments on the record, has referred to it as a “…guitar fest,” and his solo halfway through Manitowoc is an acoustic joy. If you love stories and observations of humanity, narrated through the medium of roots music, then turn to Turn Turn Turn. Enjoy.
