Kate Maki

To brew this batch of musical Moonshine, acclaimed country-folk songstress Maki lured a bunch of her talented pals up to Sudbury back in December of 2008. With a full moon and frigid temps outside, they hunkered down and came up with this charming disc in just two days. Not quite sure why it took so long to come out, but better late than never. Maki's supporting cast includes Cuff the Duke's Dale Murray and Paul Lowman, Nathan Lawr (Minotaurs), Brent Randall (Pinecones), Dan and Ryan Levecque, and Fembot David MacKinnon, who also produced. Murray's pedal steel playing is a treat, especially on "Hanging On," while Randall's cool barrelhouse piano work on "Fought the Cattle" help makes it a highlight. Some tracks sport three electric guitars and four backing vocalists, but things never sound cluttered. Maki's voice is supple and soft, blending nicely with the spirited instrumentation. There's a loose, but never sloppy, vibe throughout, reflecting the fact that this is a bunch of friends clearly having a fun time making music together. The album cover may have a threatening, Deliverance-type tone, but there's nothing menacing inside. This is as warming as whiskey swigged around a campfire.