Russ Barenberg “When At Last” (Compass 2007)

No fuss, no nonsense just great music

Russ Barenberg appears to be one that breed of artists who goes about the business of making fine music quietly. There is no fuss or fanfare attached to When At Last but it delivers.

Although soaked to the skin in bluegrass, country and roots, When At Last isn't about how clever a musician Russ Barenberg is, it's about how good the music sounds and too many times the two are not synonymous.

Inspired by Doc Watson and Mississippi John Hurt - well if you're looking for role models, why not aim high? - Barenberg began playing the guitar at 13 and pretty much since then he's been a member of a succession of bands - including Fiddle Fever whose Alsakan Fever formed the centrepiece of the epic documentary Civil War. The common thread in his musical life is that Russ Barenberg has always surrounded himself with like-minded musicians.

The upshot is that Russ Barenberg comes across as a serious musician and there is nothing in the least bit superficial about When At Last. While that may make it sound worthy and slightly dull, nothing could be further from the truth. The title track neatly encapsulates all that is good about the music. The love, care and affection lavished on the song makes it and the album a thing of rare beauty.

If Russ Barenberg were British, he'd immediately be pigeonholed as a folk musician and while The Pleasant Beggar could hardly be described as a foot stomper, it has the underlying wild freedom that characterises the spirit of Russ Barenberg. While he is clearly a master of his craft, When At Last rises above the artisan, it's foundations come from Barenberg's love of the honesty of music that has stood the test of time. Even if you hold a jaundiced view of folk/roots/country Russ Barenberg makes it truly accessible.

In the absence of lyrics , the instruments have to act as storyteller and in Man In The Hat they are eloquent, their ebb and flow firing the imagination.
Despite its origins, a sense of fun is never too far away, On Milo's Back and Redbird In The Willow/The Lakes Barenberg strays perilously close to rollicking, they're the kind of songs that round off an evening perfectly.

The attraction for 'non-folkies' is that When At Last is a completely natural album. There's no need to have been initiated in the dark secrets of folk, to appreciate it for what it is, supremely enjoyable.

Date review added:  Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Reviewer:  Michael Mee
Reviewers Rating: