“Ever Turning Wheel” (Westwood Bluegrass Band song)

WestwoodBluegrassBand1_lg — Westwood Bluegrass Band, image courtesy the artists

Though writing within the realm of a well-established form of music in the kind of western, bluegrass tradition, Westwood Bluegrass Band’s creativity is immediately evident on “Ever Turning Wheel.” Everyone making traditional, acoustic music strives for the authentic by essentially imitating a past artist. If this trio is so obvious in its hearkening back to a specific artist, I don’t know because there is something disarmingly vulnerable and uncalculated by the performance in the live video for the song. The melodies between the instruments and the vocalists are exquisite and all the more impressive because it is a live recording and the players all create such a warm, atmospheric quality to the song that it stands out in what has long been a crowded field of folk and Americana. Westwood Bluegrass Band take the essence of what that music should be about and spin that into spare yet intricate arrangements that are mutually complimentary. It doesn’t sound like a stylistic museum piece and sits good in the ears even if you’re not necessarily a fan of bluegrass or folk because the songwriting and mood of the song transcends genre with its captivating emotional honesty. Watch the video below and follow Westwood Bluegrass Band at the links provided.