Search - Cache Valley Drifters :: White Room

A Soulful String Band

sh | 07/24/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bluegrass purists will be interested only if they want to broaden their horizons. But that's not a bad thing. After all, when Bill Munroe invented the style of country music now known as Blue Grass (after Bill Munroe and His Blue Grass Boys) he was trying to develop a technique and tone that was his own.
The Cache Valley Drifters' White room foregoes the often copied high lonesome sound of traditonal bluegrass for something more their own -- call it the warm mellow sound. Unlike much of blue grass music that you can hear, their playing never sounds rushed. The traditional influences are clearly there -- not just blue grass but "mountain music" laments, folk ballads, and an assortment of traditional and more modern elements.But it all comes together in a pleasurable style that doesn't try to knock your socks off. But that's not to say that there is anything lacking in technique or talent. Listen to the mandolin on this CD -- calling this fellow proficient is like calling David Grisman adept. I, too, remember listening to this band, or one of it's iterations over 20 years ago in Santa Barbara. Back then they were usually missing a banjo player but they had two guitarists, a flat picker and a finger-picker. What a combination! that band was hot hot hot!On White Room, the band isn't trying to excite a night club audience that's knocking back pitchers of beer. It's a more studied and artful approach. The title track is a stark case in point. They have taken an old Jack Bruce tune from the days of the original hard rock trio "Cream" and put it to their own use. It's the first track on the album -- if you start out expecting pure bluegrass, this track will give you pause. But relax and give it a chance. Treat as an acquired taste. Open your mind and the CVDs will fill it with warm soulful sounds.If you like string bands -- listen to this one."

A TOTAL toe-tapper!

sh | 02/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Superb harmonies, fantastic instrumental work, and wonderful variety of tune selection. Flawless guitar and mandolin work on every cut. The blend of voices is like honey in its smooth richness. I cannot say enough about this CD! Twenty five years ago, I had the pleasure of whiling away many a Sunday afternoon at the Cold Springs Tavern, an old stagecoach stop near Santa Barbara, where these guys played. They never failed to make the place ROCK, and this CD captures the essence of what CVD is about ... WOW. This is electric bluegrass like nobody else does it!"

Wonderful blend of voices and superb instrumentalists.

sh | 12/28/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I absolutely stumbled upon this CD and bought it for two reasons: I'm a bluegrass music fan and the price was reasonable. I knew nothing about them and was stunned the first time I played the CD through. Here is a band that plays some tunes familiar to me (White Room, Boy In A Bubble)in a wonderful, unique way. Then there are the other cuts----what a marvelous blend of vocals, fantastic instrumentalists doing some amazing things, and a sound that can only be described as a blend of Crosty, Stills, Nash, and Young, America, and perhaps Country Gazette. It is such an easy CD to listen to that it's become one of my favorites. I highly recommend this MOST musical album."