The Chicago-based bluegrass band Special Consensus has been around in one form or another for 20-odd years, but banjo player Greg Cahill is the only remaining original member. Mandolin wiz Colby Maddox has been with the band for just over two years, whereas the others are newcomers, added not long before this album was recorded.
What this new lineup proves on "Our Little Town" is that talented musicians can bond quickly to create a unified sound. The addition of bassist/singer Andrea Roberts, whose lead vocals are among the most beguiling in the genre, brings the group to an even higher level. Someday she'll be counted along with Alison Krauss, Claire Lynch and Lynn Morris as one of the finest female lead singers in bluegrass.
