Pink Camel Collective’s “Roll on Mississippi” recasts Charley Pleasure’s 1981 hit as a bluegrass tune with dazzling outcomes. It’s a triumph for the 4 members of Pink Camel Collective, Heather Berry Mabe, Tony Mabe, Johnathan Dillon, and Curt Love undoubtedly enriched by their membership within the Junior Sisk Band. The Virginia/North Carolina-based band is an offshoot of the Sisk Band, sure, however the brand new single finds them instantly forging an id all their very own. Masking this comparatively obscure Pleasure single is the primary clue.

Their interpretative powers permit them the latitude to maneuver between conventional county and bluegrass with out betraying any hesitancy. The band’s three-headed vocal heart of Heather Berry Mabe, Tony Mabe, and Johnathan Dillon mix seamlessly all through “Roll on Mississippi” with every singer shining vivid. Heather Berry Mabe, specifically, instructions the respect of veteran performers and has been talked about in the identical breath as time-honored luminaries reminiscent of Mom Maybelle Carter and Emmylou Harris, amongst others.

Johnathan Dillon’s mandolin enjoying is among the tune’s highlights. His fleet-fingered work on the instrument veers into virtuoso territory with out ever overshadowing the opposite musicians. He hails from a faculty of thought that eschews flash for flashes’ sake alone and values serving the tune. Tony Mabe’s banjo and guitar work is an ideal match for Dillon. His strains intertwine with Dillon’s enjoying with out dropping an ethereal effervescent that retains the observe mild on its ft. Curt Love’s bass enjoying gives an important bottom-end anchor for Mabe and Dillon’s musical exploration. It performs to conventional strengths with out ever placing a paint-by-numbers vibe.

The tune is longer than many typical bluegrass tracks. Nevertheless, Pink Camel Collective by no means bites off greater than they will chew, and the length is reflective of their efforts to faithfully render Pleasure’s authentic model. The pop-country sensibilities of that authentic stay current in Pink Camel’s take albeit filtered by way of a bluegrass consciousness. It ends in a efficiency with one foot in every camp, they usually straddle these seemingly incompatible kinds with sure-footed talent.

Pink Camel Collective’s “Roll on Mississippi” likewise excels because of first-class manufacturing values. The bell readability of the instrumentation and vocals assist make this a standout efficiency, and the steadiness struck between every instrument by no means fails the band. Their expertise as ongoing members of the Junior Sisk Band fortifies them for this endeavor, and the apparent chemistry interprets effectively onto the recording.

Pink Camel Collective has all the required guarantees to be a standalone act in its personal proper reasonably than only a lark related with the Junior Sisk expertise. The beforehand talked about chemistry these 4 musicians share is a sturdy constructing block for no matter they wish to attempt. They’ve a bracing quantity of daring threaded into their musical character, and it comes throughout all through the whole thing of their single “Roll on Mississippi”. It’s an auspicious five-star approach to start the band’s existence and guarantees excellent moments to come back. Pink Camel Collective appeals to extra than simply bluegrass aficionados; they’ve a sound that crosses arbitrary style boundaries and invitations you to hear.  

Mindy McCall