Paper Airplane [Special Edition]

Paper Airplane marks Alison's fourteenth album and is a storming return to form for the angelic voiced 27 Grammy Award winner and her band Union Station. The title track pretty much has the classic AKUS sound and feel to it and is currently receiving plenty of radio airplay although there are plenty of other gems to be found here. Dust Bowl Children has Dan Tyminski's drawling southern vocals on an upbeat tune if somewhat slightly depressed lyric although it makes for great foot tapping stuff. Lie Awake is a slower and darker song with velvety vocals and subtle fiddle from Alison while Lay My Burden Down comes in as a more upbeat tune with a bleak lyric hidden amongst finger picking guitar. My Love Follows You Where You Go is the real gem on this album with a complex vocal and great hook to the chorus, upbeat and tuneful with angst painted all over it. Classic AKUS. Dimming Of The Day is beautiful cover of the Richard Thompson song reminiscent of "Ghost in this house". On The Outside Looking In is Tyminski's second solo vocal here, bluegrass style aplenty. Miles To Go is an up tempo song with nice Dobro and fiddle work. Sinking Stone is another gem with a more complex vocal and composition than some of the other tunes here. Not strictly a bluegrass sound, more a country/pop tune with a late seventies sound to the vocal and melody. Bonita has Dan Tyminski sing a typical country tune with a western style theme while the final track, My Opening farewell, showcases Alison's vocal ability with smooth storytelling and a medium paced melody. Musicianship throughout the recording is as usual top notch, Jerry Douglas' Dobro sounds even better than ever. This album should see Alison Krauss add a few more Grammy's to her collection. Highly recommended!

Alison Krauss is effortlessly a class act and one of the great voices of American music. Here on her 14th album and first with Union Station since 2004 she yet again shows that as a vocalist operating in the field of country and bluegrass music that she largely untouchable. You could possibly argue that following the great "Raising Sand" recorded with Robert Plant that an opportunity is missed here for some deeper experimentation which follows some of more raw explorations on that album such as the Tom Waits covers, but really who cares when the songs are this good and that voice quite as beautiful as it is? Krauss and Union Station are have been described as the gold standard for bluegrass music and on "Paper Airplane" you do sense much more of a band effort with three lead vocals undertaken by guitarist Dan Tyminski, and the cover of Peter Rowan's "Dust bowl children" in particular a fine epic of finger picking banjo/guitar and authenticity not heard since the "Oh Brother where art thou" soundtrack was safely tucked into a record sleeve. Tyminski's rustic voice again figures on the bluesy "On the outside looking in" to great effect.

However let us delay no further and get into Krauss territory. When it comes to Richard Thompson's "Dimming of the day" there is already the great original sung by folk queen Linda Thompson with her ex husbands gloriously rugged support, a stellar version by Bonnie Raitt and slightly less fabulous versions by Dave Gilmour and The Corrs. The song could have been written for an aching longing voice like Krauss's and by god does she do it justice with lovely understated country backing from Union Station. It is stunning stuff and an absolute standout. The title track has a beautiful wintry feel and Krauss voice soars on a huge chorus which tugs on your emotions while Jerry Douglas' Dobro playing shows a master in the craft. The cover of Jackson Browne's "My opening farewell" from his debut recorded in 1972, which he has sung in the past as a duet with Bonnie Raitt, is a great folk rock version of the song and when she intones that "There is a train everyday leaving either way" and "We'll soon be gone, its just as well" you feel the pain of parting. On balance the original probably retains a slight edge although Krauss should be thanked for reminding us in turn what great treasure trove can be found in the many Browne albums. Other highlights here include the gentle pair of wistful ballads of which first up is "Lay my burden down" and secondly a song which has the words "country standard" stamped all over it, namely the classic heartbreak ballad "Sinking stone" which again Krauss's voice infuses with the requisite necessary measures of warmth and latent regret. The production of "Paper Airplane" sounds as crisp and clear as a Appalachian stream and the musicianship is located firmly in the premier division (you wouldn't really expect any different). Seeing Alison Krauss live a few years back on stage with Robert Plant performing "Raising sand" and much more live was a thrill and her concert version of "Down to the river to pray" left your reviewer smitten for life. Thus while this album marks a return to more familiar territory it is an evocative collection by Krauss and a band of musicians who are by any standards bluegrass royalty.

Yet another highly professional performance from AKUS. Fans will know what to expect, newcomers will be amazed by the quality which exudes from the various tracks. I would of course have liked to have found more than 11 tracks (especially as there is apparently a deluxe version available in the USA with 6 bonus tracks). Also, I was disappointed that the booklet does not show the lyrics - and these are not yet available on-line from the usual sources.