Album Review: RanchWriters, Self-Titled

RanchWriters is the tandem of two of the more underrated and underappreciated musicians this country has to offer. Barney Bentall's knack for strong lyrics and melodies have made him a critic's darling over the years while Geoffrey Kelly was at the core of Spirit of the West. Now the duo, known as RanchWriters, have crafted a 12-track instrumental album that almost criminally flows with ease.

Calming, soothing and at times playful, the record's selling points are how lovely both complement the other on the thoughtful opener "Chilcotin" recalling the likes of Mark Knopfler and Adrian Legg. Meanwhile "Marble Canyon Rag" features gentle performances with Kelly's tin whistle coming to the fore. Even the busier-sounding tune "Fred Neil" is gorgeously executed.

For an entirely wordless effort the melodies throughout will have you humming, particularly on the pedal steel-tinged title track or the flamenco touches during "Big Turk." The crowning achievement has to be "Upstairs Downstairs (For Penny)," the first tune with any sort of percussion.

Another plus is the running time at 37 minutes, leaving no musical fat as the album winds down with Kelly's work on "Winter Flood" and "Black Tusk" meshing with Bentall's fine finger-picking. In a word: bliss.

RanchWriters was released September 17, 2021.
Listen to it here.