(Signature Sounds)

www.signaturesounds.com

The outgrowth of an ongoing Sunday gospel brunch in a venerable Somerville, MA dive that attracted a revolving cast of area roots musicians (including emerging sensation Eilen Jewell and members of her band) and eventually coalesced into what is captured on this debut, the Sacred Shakers are an exercise in musical/cultural revival, rather than the revival tent. The sound of their gospel isn't rhythm and blues, but old country, old blues, and old-time, and it swings hard.

The waltzy country of "Ready to Go Home" sounds true to its author, Hank Williams, "Taggin' Along With Jesus" and "Prayer Bells of Heaven" have an insistent hillbilly vibe, Eric Royer's banjo gives "Jordan Is a Hard Road to Travel" and old-timey air that's punctuated by Jerry Miller's fantastic take-off guitar, and "Titanic" and the venerable "John the Revelator" both receive appropriately echoing, spooky treatments. The record's communal origins are carried over with its revolving cast of vocalists: five of the eight Shakers take turns on lead vocal duties and sing in various combinations, Jewell in particular providing prominent, scintillating harmonies. For sheer musical ecstasy, though, nothing beats her singularly fine singing on the gorgeous, stately depiction of the promised land, "Green Pastures," which provides a perfect coda for this entertaining project.

Standout tracks: "Titanic," "Green Pastures" STUART MUNRO