Backtracking

Early American music brought to life again

American Epic is a historic multimedia project with a documentary and soundtrack that tells the story of early American recorded music. The double-album finds classic and contemporary artists including Willie Nelson, Elton John, Taj Mahal and Pokey LaFarge revisiting some of those songs and recording using a reassembled example of the first electrical (one-mic) sound recording system. Jack White’s (also executive producer here with T Bone Burnett) take on Matrimonial Intentions and Alabama Shakes’ version of Memphis Millie’s Killer Diller Blues are akin to sending them back in time. With some excellent acoustic playing showcased, the results are a testament of the past echoing into the present. [DH]

Standout track: Come On In My Kitchen – Stephen Stills For fans of: Recording history, Americana, blues roots