by Jedd Ferris

This Asheville, N.C., five-piece string outfit's original blend of self-dubbed “fiery mountain music” melds tight picking with sultry female vocals. Throughout A Mountain Apart the group moves from the touching old time-style ballad of the title track to the somber newgrass instrumental lullaby “The Hatching Season" that finds Billy Cardine’s resophonic guitar channeling Jerry Douglas ala Strength in Numbers days. It’s anchored by Shannon Whitworth’s voice that flows like a deep, sweet mountain creek in introspective landscape poems like “Laurel Grove,” the sunny romp of “Off to Sea,” and the vintage country vibe of “Don’t Leave Me Feelin’ Blue.”