Time (The Revelator)
Time (The Revelator) makes an expansive record from a small set of instruments. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings use acoustic guitars, occasional banjo and closely connected voices to give the songs their shape. The music is quiet, but the writing reaches beyond a narrow idea of traditional folk. Its patience is one of its main strengths.
Revelator opens with a particularly close connection between the two performers. The harmonies create a slight echo around Welch's lead, while the guitar lines move together with an easy fluency. The arrangement leaves enough space for those small differences to become the centre of the song.
My First Lover brings the banjo forward, keeping an older musical sound around writing with a more contemporary directness. Red Clay Halo adds a welcome burst of movement. Its lighter energy provides contrast without breaking the acoustic setting that holds the album together.
I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll makes the interest in rock music especially clear. Recorded live, it has an immediate lift in the voices and playing, giving the desire inside the title a convincing musical form. The record does not need electric instruments to find that energy.
Dear Someone brings a slow, tender melody to its search for a lasting connection. April the 14th Part 1 and Ruination Day Part 2 connect the album’s wider interest in history and memory.
I Dream a Highway takes that wandering approach to its furthest point. The long closing song develops through recurring verses and unhurried guitar playing, asking for considerable attention. Its length may be demanding, but the gentle movement makes it an effective conclusion rather than a separate display of ambition.
Time (The Revelator) succeeds through the care inside these restrained performances. The longer passages require patience, but the strongest songs make that attention worthwhile. It is thoughtful Americana with a clear musical identity and plenty to discover within its quiet surface.
