|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prairiegrass
is the name House of Doc have given to their newest album, but it just
as accurately describes their sound. Imaginative vocal harmonies over acoustic
instrumentation are driven by bluegrass, Sacred and Celtic influences to
offer a new and appealing blend of Canadian Folk Music.
|
House of Doc describe their musical union as ‘three siblings
and two in-laws’...: Brothers David and Dan Wiebe, sister Rebecca Harder,
Andrea Wiebe (wife of David) and Matthew Harder (husband of Rebecca) compose
and perform as only a family does, with uncanny unity and cohesion. The
three siblings, Rebecca, Dan & Dave have been singing together since early
childhood where they first began to hone their craft on Sunday mornings
in their Mennonite congregation. The lifetime of practice has paid dividends,
giving audiences a large helping of real singing, free of the dehumanizing
effects of computer processing, as it was meant to be. Andrea Wiebe took
on mandolin, accordion and vocal duties a couple of years ago, shortly after
looking way, way up and saying “I do” to her 6’ 9” husband, bassist David.
At the other end of the height spectrum, at 5’ 6”, Matthew Harder has used
his strength as a performer, composer and guitarist to help drive the group
from the status of gifted amateurs to serious entertainment up and comers,
and he hasn’t needed to stand on an apple box to do it.
Named after
their family home, presided over by Grandfather David ‘Doc’ Schroeder, Ph.
D., House of Doc family history in Canada dates back to the late 1800s and
“Prairiegrass” features songs that chronicle that history. Infusing musical
inspirations such as Gordon Lightfoot, Simon & Garfunkel & Spirit of the
West with intricate harmonies, sophisticated counterpoint and a down-home
delivery, the band has captured its story with a rich and sensitive attention
to detail.
“…A lot
of people quickly focus on the Bluegrass element…We certainly would never
categorize ourselves as ‘Bluegrass’. That’d make the purists mad! And anyway
that’s only one facet of our sound. We come from a pretty broad musical
background.” says Matthew Harder. Multi-instrumentalist and talented arranger
Daniel Wiebe explains, “We have a pretty large instrumental capability,
flutes, whistles, harmonicas, bouzoukis, bassoons, piano, guitars, squeezeboxes,
and we’re not afraid to use it. I’ve played bassoon with the Winnipeg Symphony;
besides playing guitar Matthew’s also a concert pianist. As a group we’ve
got a lifetime of singing Sacred music a cappella and in choirs …It’s just
a great big smorgasbord of sounds and influences…A huge palette for a composer
/ arranger.”
The 11 song
album was written in Winnipeg but recorded at Vancouver’s “Greenhouse Studios”
under the direction of producer Vince R. Ditrich (Spirit of the West), who
fortuitously met the group onstage during a workshop at the 2004 Winnipeg
Folk Fest and struck up a conversation. “One minute we were chatting about
Matthew’s lovely Gretsch guitar, the next minute they were singing backup
vocals with us, and an hour later we decided we’d work together on an album
project….”
Prairiegrass
is a collection of Folk-songs that are both timeless and current. Engineered
by Brandon Cherrington, mixed by Richard Sera, and lovingly mastered by
Greg Reely, the album is a rich blend of acoustic sounds with a strong vintage
tonality, coloured by facile musicianship melded to thoughtful arrangements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
