Album Review: Jeni and Billy - Longing For Heaven (Jewell Ridge)

Jeni and Billy return with the follow up to their JEWEL RIDGE COAL record of last year, once again bringing with this release the authentic sounds of the Appalachian Mountains. With delightful harmonies and inspired part-singing, together with fine uncluttered instrumental accompaniment, the duo explore the various themes of home and Heaven and with Jeni coming from a Penticostal church background, find the material merely second nature, celebrating in the hymn-like songs such as On a Hill Lone and Grey.

Jeni and Billy have been singing together for five years now and are gaining a reputation wherever they play, due in part to their infectious personalities, their immediately apparent love for one another, their optimism and wide smiled nature, but also for their music, which evokes the spirit of a bygone era. If songs like I Saw a Man at the Close of Day are reminiscent of the singing of Woody Guthrie, then it only really goes to show that he too drew heavily from the tradition, especially in his borrowed melodies, as did the Carter Family before him. The lineage is clear and Single Girl captures this era of folksong superbly well.

Jeni and Billy's own compositions sit well beside the traditional songs and The Ballad of Sally Kincaid shows a remarkable command over storytelling, with a tragic tale of one girl's fall from grace, whilst Cecil Roberts' Hand returns to the mining theme previously explored on Jewel Ridge Coal. Celebrating the President of the United Mine Workers of America, this union anthem adopts the power of a communal hymn and both songs demonstrate Jeni and Billy's flair for co-writing.

Once again, like Jewel Ridge Coal, the album is tied together thematically, with the idea of 'home' being explored in songs that ponder the important transitions we face in life. Father Will You Meet Me In Heaven for instance, is about a son on his death bed after an accident, asking his father whether he will see him the next life.

The surprise standout song on the album comes right at the end with Jeni and Billy's beautiful love poem If I Ever Get Ten Dollars, which is loaded with all the optimism and expectancy that could possibly be squeezed into its three short verses. The CD also contains some additional bonus video footage to give further insight into this couple's extraordinary body of work.

Allan Wilkinson
Northern Sky

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	Jeni & Billy Longing For Heaven Jewell Ridge Records 2010-04-01