Carrie Rodriguez - Seven Angels on a Bicycle

Carrie Rodrigues is the Mexican American fiddler and singer/songwriter is best known for her inspired musical partnership with Chip Wild Thing Taylor. They've made three solid joint albums since 2002, and this debut solo effort consists almost exclusively of co-writes with Taylor, or his compositions. What marks it out is the sultry arrangements, which often move outside the familiar alt. country/bluegrass field, flirting with jazz and blues.

Bill Frisell conjures up a languid heat-haze of guitar effects, and there's smoochy sax from Javier Vercher in places, with banjo, steel guitars and dobro maintaining the country connection. For someone headhunted as a fiddler, Rodriguez makes surprisingly low-key use of her instrument, preferring instead to take the melodic leads with her pleasantly vibrato-heavy vocal.

With moods ranging from reflective melancholy (He's Already Gone) to feisty hoe-downs (Never Gonna Be Your Bride), and a refreshingly emancipated lyrical bent, Seven Angels on a Bicycle is an appealing and confident set. ~ Review at BBC Website

Track Listing :

• Seven Angels On A Bicycle
• Never Gonna Be Your Bride
• Dirty Leather
• He Ain't Jesus
• Waterbound
• '50s French Movie
• I Don't Want To Play House Anymore
• Before You Say Another Word
• Big Kiss
• Got Your Name On It
• He's Already Gone
• St. Peter's
• Alone
• Pilgrim Highway

More information about Carrie Rodriguez can be found at the Train Wreck Records website