Green & Blue

This Denver, Colorado-based sibling duo of Joanna Hyde (fiddle, vocals) and her brother Iain (guitar, mandolin, vocals) craft an elegant and eclectic blend of American and Irish folk and bluegrass on their debut album. Four of the ten tunes here were written between them, with telling covers coming from the likes of singers Kate Rusby, Karine Polwart, and Tim O’Brien as well as a lovely, delicate version of English singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine’s deservedly popular ‘Muddy Water’.

Perhaps more unexpectedly, they turn to the great soul and gospel man Sam Cooke for the swinging closer ‘Nothing Can Change This Love’. On the strength of this particular cover song, it would have been interesting to hear what might have happened had they let themselves go just a tiny bit more throughout. Still, The Hydes have delivered a winning debut, comprising equal parts charm to cracking musicianship.