Penguin Eggs

Hot on the heels of his 2009 Juno winner Proof of Love, Chester, Nova Scotia’s Old Man Luedecke reteams with Black Hen Music’s Steve Dawson for a fresh dose of cheerful, old-timey banjo goodness. Live off the floor performances and simple arrangements allow Luedecke’s wry, memorable songcraft to shine through, but it doesn’t hurt that American mandolin/fiddle ace Tim O’Brien chips in on all but one tune and that co-producer Dawson contributes reliably tasteful guitar work throughout. The album seems to reach a peak toward the end with a rousing version of Willie P. Bennett’s Caney Fork River, only to carry on upward with the soaring Luedecke original Down the Road.
– By Scott Lingley