Phil
CornishWalkaway
BY JOE ROSS
Phil
Cornish
Walkaway
BY JOE ROSS
This Californian’s bluegrass has engaging melodic moments and
a unique flair that is modest and self-effacing. Cornish picks mandolin and
guitar, and he sings most lead vocals. Phil wrote or co-wrote all but three of
the 16 songs. The set has plenty of vocals and instrumentals. The former reveal
emotional depth with the most evocative being Since You Walked Out On Me, I
Always Come Back To You, and Bitter Wind Ain’t Always Bad. The Bar
Fight is a moving ballad with Phil, his father and Pat Ickes each singing as
the stranger, the bar tender, and the local. Cornish’s progressive instrumentals
impart stylistic departure from Appalachian-rooted traditional material. There’s
plenty here to hold interest as Cornish alternates poignant vocals with acoustic
ambiance. Walkaway is a nicely animated and vivacious representation of
original songs, talent and presentation. BMP
March/April 2008 Issue