Search - Wil Maring :: An Ocean from Home

Award winning singer- songwriter Wil Maring has been bridging the gaps between bluegrass, folk, and country music. Much of the repertoire of "An Ocean from Home" are bluegrass-tinged originals, complemented by uniquely arranged covers. "An Ocean From Home" was Wil's first solo release, originally on Bear Family Records in Europe. Many of the original songs on this CD were written during Wil's first years in Europe, and have to do with the homesickness she felt during that time. The songs are crafted however to come across as genuinely heartfelt but not overly nostalgic or corny. In fact, one title, Bottomlands, won the renowned Chris Austin Songwriting Contest in the year of this CD's release. This recording was described as "bluegrass for a long winter's evening". Recorded in both the U.S and Germany, "An Ocean From Home" combines the impressive talents of former and current Shady Mix band members and guest musicians on both sides of the Atlantic, plus very special guests Rob Ickes on dobro and Joey Miskulin on accordian. The musical style ranges from uptempo traditional bluegrass two-chorders like "The Old Mill Valley" to sensitive, country-folk flavored waltzes like "Easy" to the old-timey flavored "Bottomlands". The songs themselves are beautifully arranged, sung and played, sensitively-written but not over-emotional, and will touch the heartstrings of any acoustic music fan from traditionalists to those with country/folk leanings. Even those of you who have never left home will enjoy this album.