It’s been a while since I called out any music that has caught my attention — so I wanted to mention Crooked Still.

The press is labelling them as bluegrass. I suppose — though to me they sound like Alison Krauss’ voice melded with some of the classical/newgrass crossover of Appalachian Journey, though less angular. And in many ways more in the folk tradition than “normal” bluegrass (if such a thing exists anymore). The songs are arranged for double bass, cello, banjo, fiddle, and voice — and they’re all traditional songs taken to the point of unrecognizability at times. Really dark deep tones and really hypnotic.

The first two albums are Shaken by a Low Sound and Hop High. You can hear what they sound like on their MySpace page.