Blue Horse
On their debut CD, three young Canadian songbirds (Frazey Ford, Samantha  Parton, and Trish Klein) join the neo-trad movement that has given us such  notable voices asIris DeMentandGillian Welch. But where  Welch finds inspiration in the dark hollows and tragic tales of Appalachian  music, the Be Good Tanyas seek out sweetness and light, reveling in the  interplay of their beautifully trilling voices.Blue Horseis deeply  rooted but is not an exercise in old-time purism; originals outnumber  traditional songs, and the core accompaniment of guitar and banjo is often  supplemented by bass and drums, creating aRickie Lee Jones-esque  lilt in "The Littlest Birds" and a reggae-tinged groove on the haunting old  ballad "Rain and Snow." The band name may be a bit tough to get your lips  around, but the music of this talented trio is a refreshing drink from a clear  mountain stream.--Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers