Old Juniper

The Appalachian-style trio The Down Hill Strugglers return with their first album since the passing of founding member John Cohen. The surviving Down Hill Strugglers are Walker Shepard (fiddle, banjo, guitar, voice), Jackson Lynch (fiddle, banjo, guitar, voice) and Eli Smith (banjo, guitar, banjo-mandolin, harmonica, jaw harp and pump organ) and they’ve made their name playing traditional old-time music. Old Juniper, however, marks their first album of entirely original compositions, though you’d probably never guess this on first listen. There’s a real authenticity to the tunes in their intimacy (they were recorded live to tape around a single microphone), and they all easily sound as if they could have been recorded 60 years ago. ‘Valley by the Stream’ is written and sung by Shepard, whose move from Brooklyn to rural Wisconsin seems to have infused the song with a rustic charm and authenticity, perfectly capturing the spirit of old-time string bands. ‘Let the Rich Go Bust’ showcases their ability to blend humour and social commentary. With references to the 2016 election, police brutality, and the COVID-19 pandemic sung, the lyrics are weighty and full of gravity, but the music is a delightful rollick that balances that with a sense of playfulness.