Northern California's Broken Compass Bluegrass (BCB) is back with their sophomore studio album, Through These Trees, set for release on May 10th, 2024. Though a relatively new name in the jamgrass scene, the youthful quartet has swiftly garnered attention through high-profile festival appearances and shared stages with bluegrass luminaries like Sierra Hull and The Infamous Stringdusters. Their latest release builds on the promise of their debut album Fool's Gold and Live Picks Vol. 1, establishing a richer, more cohesive identity that solidifies their unique musical voice.
Comprised of Kyle Ledson (mandolin/guitar), Django Ruckrich (guitar/mandolin), Mei Lin Heirendt (fiddle), and Sam Jacobs (bass), BCB pushes genre boundaries, drawing on traditional bluegrass roots while layering in experimental sounds. Through These Trees showcases a thematic maturity with songs that speak to the band's current journey. The album begins with Ledson’s "Alien Song" and Heirendt’s "Fairies & Lightning," setting a mysterious tone that transports listeners to an otherworldly forest. The journey continues with Ledson's "Set In Stone," a high-energy jam that contrasts with more introspective narratives like Ruckrich's "Steel & Rust" and Heirendt’s "Discovering Me."
The second half of the album ventures into complex arrangements, with compositions like "Try," "Trails of Home," and "Circustown," offering intricate harmonies and serpentine rhythms that reveal the band's growing musical chemistry. The closing track, "Long Time," fuses all their talents into a powerful encapsulation of their evolving style.
Produced with precision and warmth at Ancient Waves Studios, and mixed/mastered by Jacobs himself, the album achieves a polished yet organic sound. The cover art by Ben Jasinski encapsulates the album’s spirit, offering a visual counterpart to its sonic journey.
Through These Trees will be available on all streaming platforms and CD, with vinyl expected in early June. Broken Compass Bluegrass is certainly a band to keep an eye on, and this album solidifies their ascent in the jamgrass landscape.
Find BCB on their official website, social media platforms, and music streaming sites to keep up with their journey through the trees.
Social Links:
- Website: brokencompassbluegrass.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/brokencompassbluegrass
- Instagram: @brokencompassbluegrass
- TikTok: @brokencompassbluegrass
- Threads: @brokencompassbluegrass
- YouTube: youtube.com/@brokencompassbluegrass
- Internet Archive: archive.org/details/BrokenCompassBluegrass
- BandCamp: brokencompassbluegrass.bandcamp.com
- BandsInTown: BandsInTown BCB
