Beehive Cathedral

Despite these being three veteran performers in the old-time scene, Beehive Cathedral marks their debut as a trio. And it’s a sonic delight for anyone with an interest in Appalachian and American music. The 15 tracks here draw much of their inspiration from the music of Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau, where Decosmio grew up, and the late fiddler Clyde Davenport, whose ‘Betty Baker’ and ‘Drunken Hiccups’ feature on Beehive Cathedral. This is primarily fiddle and banjo music, though there are occasional treats of Hardanger d’amore and 19th-century pump organ. What is particularly enjoyable is the intimacy of the music. There’s a particular attention to the physicality of the music – the recordings picking up the sounds on the periphery – brief squeaks of a bow on a string or the thump of an organ. You can even pick up thunder in the background of ‘Lost Girl’. There are some learned tunes from the tradition and field recordings, but then there are some originals too, like the charming ‘Chimes’ by Richardson where his delicate banjo pizzicato sounds like soft falling rain. A delight from start to finish.