This album came out around 18 months ago but I've found myself increasingly returning to it over the past months for its touching simplicity and genuine if understated emotional integrity. Sally's an Arkansas-born, Colorado-based anthropologist, a singer-songwriter who merges the Ozark bluegrass sensibility of Iris Dement (though without that estimable lady's distinctive gawky vocal timbre) with wider country and folk influences, and to good effect. On this, her second CD release, she's blessed with musical support from a selection of Colorado worthies including ex-Hot Rize banjoist Pete Wernick and dobro virtuoso Sally Van Meter, also Ed Caner on fiddle/viola, and there's some excellent deft melodic mandolin from Greg Schochet, but their contributions are sympathetically managed and never intrude on the delicacy and uncomplicated sentiments of Sally's songs. All thirteen tracks are Sally's own compositions, this statistic alone demonstrating her confidence in her own material, which in this instance is not misplaced; it might not be cuttingly innovative, but Sally certainly treats respectfully, and skillfully develops, her acknowledged heritage with these unaffected and reflective vignettes of ordinary life. There's real quality in these songs (I wouldn't be suprised to hear Gillian Welch or even Alison Krauss covering South Carolina, for instance), but also a suprisingly broad stylistic ambit. The softly drifting ambience of Still Stands Time is deceptive, and contrasts greatly with the equally believable, almost rockabilly stance of All Roads Lead to You. There's more than a touch of early Nanci Griffith at times perhaps, especially on the attractive Kinda Easy Kinda Slow. I also really liked the vocal harmonies, which come courtesy of Celeste Krenz or Sally's sister Alice. This charmingly unpretentious and eminently likeable CD may not set the music world on fire, but it's gently and subtly satisfying and therefore well worth seeking out.