"Home", a big revival bluegrass choogler full of banjo, Dobro, harmonica, acoustic guitars and sweet harmonies all playing off of each other, rolls out the musical carpet of this charmingly rural affair. But just as you start thinking that "home" for these folk must be the Appalachian region, you notice that the liner notes place this 9-piece outfit closer to Dublin, Ireland. Recorded and produced by Karl Odlum (Gemma Hayes), Sing My Darling captures the band - whose songs were written primarily by guitarist/vocalist Neil Tobin - as they journey from Bunker Hill to Bakersfield with a Let`s Go Americana guide in hand. Yet they`ve managed to evoke the spirit as well as any native while keeping things just on the quirky side of reverently traditional. The most drastic example is "Heavenly Penicillin", a tongue-in-cheek gospel number praising the titular remedy for whatever ailments might occur from sinful doins. A couple other rollicking numbers ("Keep On Keepin` On" and "Slim Pickings") put a little `lectric twang in the mix and balance out the traditional roots of the band quite nicely. But it`s a wonder that so many people from the same Irish town, Bray of course, could find equal footing between the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and old Merle Haggard. -- Robinson, Miles Of Music (Sombrero Recordings)
