We just received an amazing CD from a young Colorado mandolinist, Eva Holbrook. Part of a family band, "SHEL" who consist of her father Andrew on guitar and lead vocals and her three sisters who sing and play an assortment of instruments from piano, synth, bass, violin, djembe, and harp. This release "Jackbox" is an astounding display of this young talent who performs profound introspective original songs and instrumental music.

The opening track "Falling" is featured on their MySpace website, sisters Sarah, Hannah, Eva, and Liza (thus, acronym "SHEL") in full force with Andrew and a keen electric mandolin counter melody in the apt hands of Eva. "Shooting Star" follows with the 17-year-old accompanying herself on acoustic mandolin, her gorgeous soprano voice uncannily reminiscent of Sixpence None the Richer's Leigh Nash. "Window Man" is a playful contrast of orchestral and electric, her sister's flowing violin against Eva's confident processed (Seafoam Green Schwab) electric mandolinning.

The family joins in again with "Everything's Alright," their signature ensemble sound of melancholy male lead and well-crafted background vocals and electric mandolin ostinato. Stepping into solo again Eva wields a dynamic prowess of mature compositional and mandolin skills well beyond her years in the original instrumental, "Tuscany." "Born from Jets," is her Allan Holdsworth-like fun with delay pedal, and the CD caps off nicely with a lush acoustic sisters quartet of piano, mandolin, violin, and harp in "Lullaby."

Ironically, the title track "Jackbox" was the only track we couldn't quite get our arms around, but the rest of the songs are a testament to the family's compelling ensemble abilities, their mother's nurturing and committed talent incubation, and Eva Holbrook's promising future as mandolinist and composer. We understand Eva's solo release is coming out later this year (May?); we'll definitely be watching for it!

View MySpace videos: SHEL

Buy CD: Jackbox

Posted by Ted at February 27, 2007 8:53 PM