Arcadia
Alison Krauss and Union Station
Down the Highway
28 March 2025
Alison Krauss hasn’t recorded with Union Station in 14 years—since Barack Obama’s first time period, as Rolling Stone’s David Browne famous in his article asserting the act’s newest album, Arcadia. Throughout this time, so much has modified, together with the departure of key Union Station member Dan Tyminski, who has been changed by Russell Moore from IIIrd Tyme Out. Moore shares lead vocal duties with Krauss. The long-awaited reunion of Alison Krauss & Union Station comes after a very productive interval for Krauss, throughout which she nurtured a profitable solo profession, highlighted by her collaborations with Robert Plant.
Regardless of the 14-year hole between Arcadia and the group’s earlier launch, Paper Airplane, Krauss and her collaborators haven’t missed a beat. Whereas Tyminski is missed, Moore is a unbelievable addition. Central to the file is Krauss’ extraordinary expertise. Gifted with one of many purest and prettiest voices in fashionable music, Krauss infuses the songs with an ethereal magnificence and sweetness.
In distinction, Moore’s wealthy, emotive voice provides a nostalgic high quality. Though their types differ, each singers are distinctive storytellers, bringing life to the customarily somber narratives within the lyrics. “With a whole lot of these tunes, you hear these tragic tales, however they mixed it with a stupendous melody and poetry,” Krauss mentioned of the fabric. “It was how individuals bought their true-life tales advised, and I’m all the time drawn to the reality.”
When describing the music on Arcadia, Krauss expressed that it displays “that complete thought of ‘within the good outdated days when instances had been dangerous’”. The songs inform tragic tales of heartache and loss. The highest-notch instrumentalists create a lush, full sound that balances the polished sheen of up to date music and the glowing nostalgia of basic Americana. Moore’s contribution to Arcadia is a poignant reminder of a hallowed previous, whereas Jerry Douglas‘ beautiful dobro work stands out prominently.
Though Arcadia isn’t morose or bleak, a way of disappointment permeates these songs. Within the poignant monitor “Granite Mills”, written by Timothy Erickson, Moore recounts the tragic Granite Mills fireplace that claimed the lives of over 20 staff, lots of whom had been youngster laborers. Erickson’s lyrics confront the tragedy with stark honesty, depicting the frantic makes an attempt of the victims to flee. Krauss’ haunting trill on “Richmond on the James” displays on the Civil Conflict via the eyes of ladies affected by its impression.
Within the reflective lament “Ceaselessly”, Krauss discovers a chic magnificence inside the looking lyrics. She additionally brings a young magnificence to the straightforward poetry of “One Ray of Shine”, co-written by her brother Viktor. Whereas Krauss shines all through, Moore delivers among the most memorable moments, reminiscent of within the vigorous Appalachian barnstormer “Snow”, which options stunning concord vocals and unbelievable strings, contrasting its unhappy lyrics with a vibrant vitality.
Maybe Moore’s standout second is the Southern gothic story “Hangman”, a deceptively easy tribute to a small-town executioner. Moore’s haunting vocals improve this unsettling tune, which is conjured with darkish imagery by Viktor Krauss and Maurice Ogden’s poignant poetry.
Given how vast and reaching Alison Krauss’ work has been within the interim between Union Station albums, it’s outstanding how heat and quick their newest collaboration feels. It’s a credit score to the act that this file doesn’t really feel like a celebrity automobile with session gamers. It’s a gathering of minds, wildly artistic professionals reunited to log yet one more sterling work of their estimable discography.
