Greg Brown: Honey in the Lions Head

Reviewed by GRAHAM REID

Herald rating: * * *

The highly literate Brown is one of the most interesting and consistent of the American country artists — for proof check his recent If I Had Known collection with the excellent DVD doco — and here, with Iris de Ment and daughter Pieta on backing vocals, he offers a low-key collection of earthy, elemental folk-blues standards.

They feel thoroughly personal and the simple arrangements of lap steel, mandolin and fiddle (sparely produced by Brown and fellow traveller Bo Ramsey) put you right into Brown's company, especially during the well-deep baritone delivery of I Believe I'll Go Back Home.

Brown is one of the few who could do Who Killed Cock Robin? and On Top of Old Smokey and make you listen, but in truth it's for fans only this time.
(Trailer)