Hilton Park outdo themselves with Strings album

The state of Maine has a vibrant music scene these days. One of their local gems is an acoustic trio calling itself Hilton Park. Hilton Park’s latest CD Strings plays out with a shiny vibrancy that often makes the three piece acoustic act sound like a full electric band. Every note from every instrument is brimming with life on this album, and it would be an understatement to say this trio have outdone themselves.

Opening with title track “Strings,” Hilton Park have the listener’s ears glued to their sound from the start. Rippling piano notes, gritty banjo picking, and many other nuggets from their acoustic instruments adorn the mellow approach from the lead vocal. There is so much flavor, richness, and oomph in those instruments, it isn’t funny. Harmony vocals will carry one away to a special rustic place and time with their earnest fullness.

Following up with “Alabama Moon” finds the trio mashing hearty acoustic guitar strums, cozy country piano lines, and a peddle steel guitar to arrive at a tender, emotive sound. The lead vocal rises and descends with a heft of personality and tone that makes this song come alive, something the listener cannot help but picture the story being told. As much as each note of each instrument rings out with hearty natural tone, there is also a tight ensemble quality, keeping the song from becoming unwieldy while it sweeps its way forward with a lot going on within.

Striking a more bluesy feel, “Ghost At Work” is a feisty, plucky number that combines slide guitar with a hearty, down home sing along that is just bursting with energy. Speedy notes from a dobro, piano, and percussion could inspire a thousand people at once to start dancing a jig. One can envision smoke coming up from every player’s fingertips as they press out this kicking piece of acoustic action. The Hilton Park boys sing with this one with a motivation that makes the listener believe they really need someone to save their souls.

Taking their time and playing easy on “Dream Of 1000 Cats,” Hilton Park create a warm, gentle, inviting soundscape that makes the listener feel at home, like listening to words of wisdom from one’s own uncle. Piano notes fall just right, with each single note having a tender quality underneath a contented, smooth, handsome vocal. The success of this song, though, lies in the way the entire tender work moves forward on the strength of its wide, sweeping arc. It’s just a big, beautiful song that doesn’t need to push hard to get its huge point across.

“Girl Of My Dreams” is another easeful, glowing acoustic ditty. The lead vocal brings all the necessary warmth to a song that salutes the girl of his dreams, as she’s the girl he’s still married to several years later. A tender piano line, forlorn banjo notes, and emotive slide guitar melody complete the picture of being with the right person. Contrasting with the distant banjo, one feels the secure emotional joy and stability in the lyrical theme here. There is also a purity in this song that makes it easy to picture each note being played.

“Scooter And Babs” is a rollicking hoot. It’s a sung-spoken ballad about a rough around the edges fellow who meets up with a too prissy lady. Colorful dobro work, acoustic guitar strums, and light country piano create a soundscape that makes it easy to picture this lovable, unlikely pair coming to life before your very ears. The instrumental break is loaded with rustic charm, engaging piano tinkles and a heft of guitar continues the amicable rambling of this tongue in cheek story song.

“Nights Alone” plays more like a pop piano ballad. A smooth, easygoing lead vocal climbs ever higher in emotive expression as the song goes on, making the listener hear and feel the wide, sweeping arc on this number. With tremendous lift coming from piano and a string section, the voice sounds majestic without even trying. It just ranges out overall going on in the piano and strings.

Hilton Park close out their album with “Blood And Sea.” Its assertive strumming and heavily accented picking create a hefty soundscape beneath the natural beauty of their lush vocal harmonies. These three sound like they were born to sing together. Putting a lot of feeling into their song makes it play with a rustic momentum unique to themselves. Unpretentious, unadorned with studio tricks, Hilton Park make some fun, meaningful, earthy roots music.

Hilton Park tops last year’s Greener Grass CD with this latest effort strings. Strings is a very appropriate name for this album because all of these songs are built upon ruggedly beautiful melodies and chords played on string instruments. Hilton Park are also nominated for a New England Music Award for the second time in as many years. Let’s hope they keep up the good work. The New England music scene needs their talented breath of fresh air.

http://www.hiltonparkband.com/

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