Sing Out!

Old Man Luedecke is Chris Luedecke’s nom de guerre. He plays banjo on eight songs here, guitar on the other three. He wrote 10 and covers Willie P. Bennett’s “Casey Fork River.” His songs feel old timey, brimming with gritty wis- dom, ancient yet fresh and new. Co-con- spirators on the album include Steve Dawson (producer, various guitars), Tim O’Brien (fiddle, mandolin, guitar, vocals) and Keith Lowe and John Raham on bass and percussion respectively. Picking throughout is crisp and bracing, with ex- cellent sound. Love Teresa Bergen’s cover painting of a banjo man Icarus. Terrific album! — MT