Junkerpunch

Hillfolk Noir are a trio of banjo, fiddle and double bass who hail from Boise, Idaho. The band are led by banjo player and vocalist Travis Ward, who also wrote most of the songs on this album. They work in the old-time, mountain music tradition, although Ward's songs make no attempt to sound as if they were written a century ago; instead, they often reference contemporary events. The most obvious comparison the trio draw is The Handsome Family, their banjo-driven sound and laconic, darkly humorous vocals suggesting a wry, David Lynch-esque view of the world. Yet Ward's a strong picker and interesting songwriter, ensuring Hillfolk Noir mark out their own territory. From covers of songs by ancient blues singers Skip James and Henry Thomas through singing about heroin overdoses and friends getting shot, Hillfolk Noir create engaging, sometimes laugh-out-loud music. With a little more attention to song craft and arrangements, Hillfolk Noir could well win over a big Americana following.