Wilders, On the Wings Of A Dove (Rural Grit, 2002)
"When the fire comes down from Heaven and blood shall fill
the sea...
I'll be carried home by Jesus and with him forever be"
-- E.C. and Orna Ball's "Trials, Troubles, Tribulations"
Who says Singing For the Lord is a drag? Not The Wilders! This little quasi alternative bluegrass string band is from Kansas City, Missouri, where someone convinced them to make their fifth album all gospel. "The Wilders Brand Gospel Music" it says on the cover, above the photo of the sweet potato.
I saw these boys, or rather three boys and a gal, singing a couple weeks ago in cheesy light brown leisure suits and big hats. What authentic energy and enthusiasm the boys had, stepping up for a duo! It was as fine as Oh Brother! and live as well. Not all the great old classic gospel hits on the CD are uptempo driving slammers, but some are, including my favorite, "Are You Washed In the Blood?" [of the Lamb]. Fiddler Betse Ellis has a loud, flat voice referred to in Sacred Harp as "Alto/Treble From Hell" (I think in Poland, they call it a "white voice") and it sounds great accompanying the guy doing lead vocals. I was told that she had actually tried out Sacred Harp so maybe that is where she found her voice.
Some songs are slow and weepy, and you can sing along with them. I remember a few from listening to WVOK in Birmingham during my youth. "In the Garden" carries the Inspirational Lyrics, "He walks with me and he talks with me, and tells me that he is his own..." Also stirring up old memories of departed relatives and disc jockeys is the title track, "On the Wings of a Dove." "On the wings of a snow white dove, he sends his pure sweet love..." This album about sets me to tears! "Old Time Religion" is another popular hit that almost every will recognize. "The Fourth Man In the Fire" is not as popular, but it does tell the familiar story of Shadrack, Meeshak, and Abednigo in the flames in an evangelical manner with some interesting backing vocals.
Besides Ellis, The Wilders are Ike Sheldon on guitar and banjo, Nate Gauron on string bass, and Phil Wade on mandoline and dobro. The musicians turn a lot of tricks and do solos...the mandoline is so nice!...with a lot of pepper, but are never overpowering. Ellis tears loose with her fiddle solo and pulls out a bunch of primitive double stops on the short instrumental track "I'd Rather Be An Old Time Christian Lord, Than Anything At All/Waiting For the Boatman." The Wilders shoot a wink every once in a while, but this makes the album all the more listenable and fun. Recommended for Bible Thumpers, bluegrass fans, sentimental Southerners, and anyone else, except maybe intolerant urban atheist stick-in-the-muds.
The Wilders are on the Web here!
