Morningbird: “Echoes In The Meadow” (2024) CD Review

Morningbird is the trio of Jill Burkes, Rob Wheeler and Josh Palmi, all singers and songwriters (originally, it was a duo until early 2023, when Josh joined them), based in Minnesota. They released their first album last year. Titled Echoes In The Meadow, it contains mostly original material, along with a few traditional numbers. Jill Burkes is on violin, guitar and vocals; Rob Wheeler is on lead guitar, mandolin, harmonica and vocals; and Josh Palmi is on upright bass and vocals. They have a couple of guests joining them on certain tracks, Ryan Dermody and Jesse Dermody of The Brothers Burn Mountain.

Morningbird opens this disc with a cool rendition of the blues classic “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning.” The group eases into it, developing that wonderful groove before delivering the song’s first lines. This track features some absolutely delicious blending of voices on the chorus, and a really nice lead on guitar. Toward the end, we are treated to some wonderful stuff on violin. “Before you know, your whole world is all gone.” That’s followed by an original song, “Birds And Bees,” with Jill Burkes on lead vocals. “Eyes are heavy, but I just can’t sleep/Never did me good trying to count all them sheep/Overactive brain but it ain’t that deep/Sure do like the fire, but I can’t stand the heat.” That line “Overactive brain but it ain’t all that deep” in particular delights me, and there is something catchy about the overall song. Part of it is in the rhythm of the vocal delivery. This track also features some good stuff on guitar.

“Reefer” begins with a repetition of the line “Throw that reefer in the river,” and then develops another really good groove and vibe. “Who’s that creeping round the back yard/Who’s that peeking on the fence/Who’s that lurking while you’re sleeping/Coming for you when you’re in bed.” This song itself sounds like it is sneaking around your back yard, creeping in and making a home for itself in your house. And check out that guitar work in the middle. This track also features some nice touches on harmonica. Ryan Dermody and Jesse Dermody join the group on percussion on this one. “Reefer” ends as it began, with the repetition of the line “Throw that reefer in the river.” Then “Nights Of July” has a slow, dark groove moving with certainty, a captivating sound. “Come take my hand, let’s never grow old/Lay with me now/Take my heart, take my soul/Together we’ll never let go.” What a beautiful and haunting vocal performance. We sense that death lurks around every corner, watching each slow step we take. “Feelings familiar of dread and despair/When will I learn that this life isn’t fair.” It’s interesting, for the mandolin often has a cheerful sound, yet here it is comes from a darker place, like a bell signaling the end, itself pretty and haunting. This is one of my favorite tracks.

“Thunder” has a weight to it, and there is a spiritual bent to that gorgeous vocal work sounding, “Thunder.” This one also has a folk vibe that is both timeless and immediate, catching us up in its atmosphere. “Down in the valley on the river bed/Leaves of yellow and burning red/Gold in the morning.” The violin could be coming from a mountain top or a back porch. Either way, we are transported by this excellent song. And who isn’t looking for such a thing these days? The album’s second traditional number is an instrumental titled “Swallowtail Jig,” and it too transports us, taking us straight away to Ireland. I can’t help but love it, for this music is in my blood, and my body and soul react to it in a strong and positive way. There is a pub near me that used to have music like this frequently, and I miss hearing it on a regular basis.  Anyway, these guys do a great job with it, fully inhabiting the song, delivering a passionate rendition.

I appreciate the unexpected play on words in the title of “Cold Hart,” and I love Jill’s vocal delivery, her passion giving a sense of urgency to the song. “Society, they got it wrong, the fast one wins the race/When you’re living in the woods, hell, no one gets first place/Sitting all alone, it’s your thoughts that you must face.” And again, there is some great work on guitar. Jesse Dermody is on percussion, and Ryan Dermody provides some backing vocal work on this track. The song concludes with some strong work on violin. That’s followed by the final of the album’s traditional numbers, “Darlin’ Cody,” here titled “Dig A Hole In The Meadow (Darlin’ Cody),” the violin figuring prominently from the start, helping to create the rhythm and then rising above it. As the song is reaching its conclusion, they bring things in closer for a softer, more intimate section, led by the vocals, which is wonderful.

“The Wind” is really good, powerful and timely number, expressing a certain dismay with this nation and its own mythology. “Corruption between the state and the church/No matter the cost, drink his blood, cure your thirst/Your heathen souls forever damned and be cursed/Unless you carry this cross and his leather bound verse.” Great lyrics, right? I’ve been thinking about religion again lately, in part because of the horrid state this country has gotten itself into, and that at the urging of the religious folks who seem hell-bent on reaching the apocalypse, the foolish bastards. “It’s still bought and sold, the American dream/White male power, corruption and schemes/The rich getting richer, you work and scream/You’re forced to pay taxes, outdated regimes.” Churches should be taxed. It is ridiculous that they aren’t, particularly as those people won’t stay the hell out of politics like they’re supposed to. Then “Time For A Change” has a more fun rhythm, yet also addresses some of the troubles of this nation. “There’s children in school, what are we teaching them/If we want peace we got to change their curriculum/Life lost, what’s the cost, you’re all worried about inflation.” And they sing, “It’s time for change.” Certainly it is, but I am no longer optimistic that it’s going to happen. There are too many morons, too many terrible people. The election in November proved that people suck. Not all of them, clearly, but great numbers of them, more than I’d previously imagined in my optimistic stupor. There is a lot of change that is needed. An end to the Electoral College, for one thing. And campaign finance reform. Corporations and groups should not be allowed to donate money to political campaigns, not a single dollar. And all religion should be removed from politics. And of course we need to start getting rid of the guns. Will any of this happen? There is a nice moment when we expect the word “fight,” and they surprise us by instead delivering the word “love.” And that, I suppose, is the key. “It don’t matter what side you’re on, we’re all in this together/You’d think by now we’d be smart enough to know how to act better.” The album concludes with a reprise of “Thunder.” It’s almost the entire song again, but with a somewhat stripped-down folk sound.

CD Track List

1. Keeps Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
2. Birds And Bees
3. Reefer
4. Nights Of July
5. Thunder
6. Swallowtail Jig
7. Cold Hart
8. Dig A Hole In The Meadow (Darlin’ Cody)
   
9. The Wind
10. Time For Change
11. Thunder (Reprise)

Echoes In The Meadow was released on May 10, 2024.