There’s many artists in the acoustic realm that blend musical idioms, but few do it as seamlessly as The Foreign Landers. Fronted by banjoist Tabitha Agnew Benedict and mandolinist David Benedict, the duo has successfully created a melting pot of bluegrass and Celtic tradition, along with profound storytelling. Their sophomore release, Made to Wonder, picks up where their first recording left off. While the previous effort detailed the challenges of immigrating to a new country and building a new life, this release is filled with the joys of simplicity alongside emotions of heartache and wonder.
The opening track, When The Morning Comes, is filled with powerful images of overcoming adversity in times of hardship. As with all the selections on this project, Tabitha and David are joined by their longtime bandmates Julian Pinelli on fiddle and Nate Sabat on bass. The following song, Smell The Rose, carries an equally important message of savoring the fleeting, yet beautiful moments that life has to offer.
The title track, Made To Wonder, tells an all too relatable tale of chasing after something far beyond what any human being could ever imagine. Tabitha’s vocal performance and the cello playing of guest musician Tristian Clarridge do the most effective job at conveying the song’s emotional gravity.
Shoes Off and Is It A Dream are two of the album’s most lighthearted pieces. The former tells a familiar, yet amusing story of the small annoyances that come with people sharing a home together, while the latter brings forth the beauty of goodness and grace that life can offer to each of us. This track most appropriately closes the project, leaving the listener filled with peace and hope.
Made To Wonder provides an excellent new chapter to the musical journey of The Foreign Landers. By masterfully melding bluegrass and Celtic stylings, the Benedicts are able to share compelling stories that encapsulate many emotions which we’ve all experienced. This recording is an invitation to contemplate what lies ahead.
