New Reviews for December 8, 2023

Before and After
Reprise
An intimate in-studio acoustic live set that finds Neil Young looking back on his beginnings and middle age.
- Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Accompany
Karma Chief
Recorded live in the studio with a band, the Cotton Jones leader embraces an especially dreamy, seductive impressionism on his fifth solo outing.
- Marcy Donelson
Phonox Nights
Facility 4
Steady, mostly midtempo electro-techno and dub-disco explorations from Nina Walsh and the late Andrew Weatherall.
- Paul Simpson
Fabric Presents Sama’ Abdulhadi
Fabric
A propulsive, journey-like mix from the acclaimed Palestinian techno DJ.
- Paul Simpson
Oliver Davis: Blue
Signum Classics
This composer's pop-minimalism makes a perfect fit with the duo piano talents of Beth & Flo.
- James Manheim
Mozart: Piano Concertos, Vol. 8
Chandos
Elegant, self-effacing performances round out this well-recorded Mozart series on Chandos.
- James Manheim
Schubert: Lieder with Orchestra
BR Klassik
A rising baritone turns to orchestral arrangements of Schubert songs, mostly by famed composers.
- James Manheim
Bach: The French Suites, BWV 812-817
Hyperion
This traversal of the French Suites is, if possible, even more adventurous than usual for this brilliant keyboardist.
- James Manheim
Dueling Banjos
AllMusic Staff Pick - December 8, 2023
January, 1973
Despite the long-term damage this film and the soundtrack's title theme did to bluegrass, the soundtrack stands as one of the best introductions to instrumental bluegrass available. The blistering virtuosity of multi-instrumentalists Eric Weissberg and Marshall Brickman ripple through such traditional numbers as "Shuckin' the Corn," "Little Maggie," and "Mountain Dew" with such fervor and passion, it's hard to believe that all this music is coming from two city slickers.
- Zac Johnson