Melody Walker & Jacob Groopman We Made It Home Maker/Mender Music

PERHAPS like me Melody Walker and Jacob Groopman will be new names to add to your artist list.

I have to confess that when I received the album I made a few lines of enquiry and it seemed they were more well know in folk circles and almost dismissed it.

I'd have been more than annoyed with myself if that had been the case.

Hailing from the area of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia singer songwriter Melody and picker Jacob have fused their combined influences into a style they like to call 'Americali'.

They reckon "It's American with a warm dusting of California magic and much much more".

Having had a listen I can not only concur but add a slice of bluegrass complimented by American traditional musical roots.

It's hard to believe that this is their first musical project together as they compliment each other so well, with great harmonies and a clean freshness of sound from mandolin, guitar and banjo.

There's also a great mix of light and shade during the twelve track offering (of which the pair have written eight) of well written songs that show off their great musicianship and wordsmith status.

If you're needing a new fresh 'pick me up' sound then it's certainly an album to take a listen to, and to my mind the title track tells it all.

Not only have they 'Made It Home' but to me they've also moved the goalposts to take on 'country music' appreciators.

It has also been announced that a leading music agency here in the UK have added them to their artist roster with plans for a UK/Irish tour in 2015.

Take a preview listen this weekend as they take up the Album Of The Week slot on the American Connection Show from Saturday log on to americanconnection.euvue.co.uk