#4 Album on the US Radio Folk Charts, April 2012!
Molasses Creek, Island Out of Time
Return to a time and place teetering on the edge of the known world . . . far from the deafening roar of the sound-byte existence we call civilization.
Molasses Creek’s 12th release, “An Island Out of Time” lifts the veil of the modern, impersonal world to reveal the heart of the small town community from our dreams. Reflecting influences from the band’s remote home of Ocracoke Island, NC, this masterly-crafted recording draws the listener back in time to a place where meaningful existence has free range, and songs, stories, laughter, and laments scatter from the front porch as dusk descends.
In the opening track, House on a Hill, Gary Mitchell welcomes the listener with Laurelyn Dosset’s intimate song celebrating a child’s birth and the hope that it brings to the family and community. His I’m a Fisherman reveals the struggles of the coastal fisherman from Molasses Creek’s home of Ocracoke Island, and the underlying spark that drives the waterman’s dreams. Fiddler Dave’s songs celebrate the characters that become legend in every small town. In Mississippi Sawyer Dave pens a story to match one of his favorite traditional fiddle tunes, and in Here Comes Rose he embraces his love of the vaudevillian era with the tale of a raucous hussy that sweeps through town. Marcy Brenner brings the feminine voice into the spotlight in the bluesy Beautiful Sorrow of Love, celebrating the rich textures of joy and sadness in our most cherished relationships. In I Beg You to Stay, what begins as a slow ballad with a classic country-sounding lament carefully unfolds to reveal the wound of a greater personal tragedy. Molasses Creek’s passion for harmony vocals is highlighted in their unique interpretation of the classic Lennon/MacCartney song Because, adeptly grounded by Lou Castro’s masterful guitar work and Gerald Hampton’s acoustic bass. The entire ensemble struts their skillful chops on the funky driving Scat Reel Set as well as the elegant Selchie’s Joy Waltz and Celtic inspired Catharsis Reel Set. Finally, Lou Castro’s instrumentational fervor reaches its peak when he seizes the mike to deliver his parting advice to the listener on It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie.
Molasses Creek is Gary Mitchell (vocals & rhythm guitar), Fiddler Dave Tweedie (vocals, fiddle & cittern), Marcy Brenner (vocals, mandolin, guitar, cittern, & percussion), Lou Castro (lead guitar, dobro, lap steel, electric bass), & Gerald Hampton (acoustic bass & mandolin). Percussionist Jubal Creech joins the band on Scat Reel Set. An Island Out of Time was recorded and mastered on Ocracoke Island at Gary Mitchell’s Soundside Studios.
Only accessible by ferry, Molasses Creek’s Ocracoke Island is an enchanting step out of modern times into a world of captivating natural beauty, rich maritime history, ghostly shipwrecks, heroic lifesavers, crafty pirates, and a community of 900 independently minded residents. Traveling “off” as locals term it, Molasses Creek band has become legendary in the Eastern US over the past 19 years for their captivating performances, prolific recordings, and the love that they bear for their coastal home (and fig preserves they bring with them!). In addition to touring, these award winners from Garrison Keillor's “A Prairie Home Companion” have released 12 recordings, and produce shows at their very own Deepwater Theater on Ocracoke Island during the summer season.
Featured Tracks (and notes about them)
1. House on the Hill (3:12) ~ Slow, sweet ballad welcoming new life into the world
2. Mississippi Sawyer (4:33) ~ Moderate tempo, old timey, story song about a fiddler
3. I’m a Fisherman (4:13) ~ Slow, sweet ballad about the struggles of a fisherman
4. Beautiful Sorrow of Love (2:58) ~ Slower, bluesy/jazzy song about love
5. Scat Reel Set(4:13) ~ Up-tempo funky instrumental with driving bluegrassy conclusion
6. Because (3:17) ~ New interpretation of classic Beatles song
7. I Beg You to Stay (4:22) ~ Slow ballad about loss
8. Here Comes Rose (3:41) ~ Quirky vaudevillian number about a spicy lady
9. Selchie’s Joy Waltz/Catharsis (7:16) ~ Slow waltz into a driving jig and reel
10. It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie (2:51) ~ Classic 20s song, fun delivery.
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