The Carolina Chocolate Drops have released Leaving Eden, the follow up to the critically acclaimed Genuine Negro Jig. It’s fairly clear from the outset that this record isn’t going to be for everyone. You’re not going to be seeing singles from this record racing up the charts. What you do get however is the chance to listen to a little slice of musical history. Not in any grandiose sense, but rather in the sense that you are listening to a band preforming music, that is part of a tradition, a lineage that stretches back into the history of American music.
The Carolina Chocolate Drops are essential an old time string band, they are in fact one of the last remaining African American string bands who perform and produce music full time. A sort of pre-blues music that hails from the Carolina region, the music bares many similarities to the Blues, Soul, R&B and Bluegrass. However, the band aren’t afraid to mix things up a bit, and are perhaps most well known for their inspired cover of Blu Cantrel’s 2001 hit “Hit Em Up Style”. Leaving Eden could very easily have seen the band perform a series of dramatic genre re-imaginings. Instead it is an album full of nuance and charm, with some brilliant performances throughout.
“Riro’s House” opens the record in raucous fashion, bringing the records bluegrass elements into play immediately with some blistering fiddle and banjo. “Kerr’s Negro Jig” throws a spanner in the works a bit, bringing the tone right down, for a subtle and delicate banjo driven track. Early highlight “Ruby Are You Mad At Your Man” gives vocalist Rhiannon Giddens a chance to show off her range. Her vocal is one of the overall highlights of the record, bringing just the right amount of emotional depth to the tracks on which she takes lead.
“Country Girl” is one of the records more poignant tracks. At this time of financial insecurity around the world, the track’s underlying reminiscence for a more rural and pastoral existence is particularly apt. “Run Mountain” is a fun rollicking track, with some stirring banjo. The album seems to move between these more fun and energetic tracks and poignant and engaging tracks like title track “Leaving Eden” a beautiful and affecting track, that continues the same same themes first brought up in “Country Girl”.
Leaving Eden is a nuanced and engaging record. Throughout the record the band move with considerable ease between fun barnstorming tracks. Replete with handclaps, blistering fiddles and spoons to more emotional and powerful songs addressing a number of tough issues facing people today. The fact that they manage this without coming across as either preachy or overtly political is testament to the subtlety with which they craft their music. Leaving Eden was a real joy to listen to from start to finish.
Review Score: 8.9 out of 10
———-
