Three years after releasing the first volume of
The Women of Kerrville, Silverwolf followed up with this CD, which contains some highlights of the Kerrville Folk Festivals of 1996, 1997, and 1998. Like
Vol. 1,
Vol. 2 favors diversity and takes a fairly unpredictable look at female artists who appeared at the festival (which had been going on since the early '70s). A delicate, gently introspective approach to folk-pop is heard on
Dee Carstensen's "Time,"
Betty Elders' "Longbed from Kenya,"
Barbara Kessler's "Notion," and
Anne Hills' "First Day of Autumn," but you'll find a grittier country-rock outlook on the Burn Sisters' "God Made Woman," and
Emily Kaitz's humorous "Shallow End of the Gene Pool." One of the strongest performances comes from
Pele Juju, an all-female worldbeat combo from California. Drawing on African and Caribbean pop, the exuberant "Move" questions the hectic, stressful lifestyles of the '90s and urges listeners to slow down and find more time for family, friends, and pleasure. Those who appreciated
The Women of Kerrville, Vol. 1 will find
Vol. 2 to be equally rewarding.