That they hail from East Tennessee helps give Blind House instant credibility, due to their proximity to traditional Appalachian environs. Their self-titled debut album attains a very high bar even at the outset. It’s quite impressive to find a new band that suddenly emerges, seemingly out of nowhere, and makes such an emphatic impression straight from the start.
Comprised of multi-instrumentalists Cody Bauer on fiddle, Ryan Dunaway on fiddle and vocals, George Colyer on mandolin and vocals, Duck Ryan on guitar, banjo and vocals, and Will Ross on bass, the band came together informally at first, pooling their talents and individual influences as the band evolved.
Their eponymous debut is proof of their prowess, nine songs that vary in tone and texture. The atmospheric intro of Underture gives way to the fiddle-fueled revelry of the astute instrumental, Five Miles From Town. That, in turn, leads into the tender trappings of Rain Check, and a seductive set-up that gradually builds to a crest and climax.
The tangled tapestry of Father William, the driving delivery given Elzic’s Farewell, and the inspired instrumental, Maysville dramatically demonstrate that this band possesses both the taste and the talent to consistently shift their stance in order to suit their more melodic inclinations.
That’s further proven by the quiet contemplative sounds that drape such songs such as Bats, Don’t Await Up, and Mama’s Boy, all of which reflect the band’s ability to share more delicate designs, while still managing to make an emphatic impression at the same time. It’s a luster and luminescence that allows the music to linger well after the final notes fade away as it shimmers with the tenderness taken courtesy of an emotive embrace.
While bluegrass remains central to their musical mantra, their variety suggests a vision that allows them freedom from any specific constraints. It bodes well for the possibility that they’ll reach new horizons by way of imagination and ingenuity. Let’s just say that Blind House are destined to open some eyes with the possibilities they’ll pursue.
