Album Review of
Fall Like Rain

Written by Joe Ross
December 15, 2020 - 11:30pm EST
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Justin Moses’ musical journey began at age six when he took up mandolin. Since then he’s become a very talented multi-instrumentalist who can masterfully play all bluegrass instruments and sing all vocal parts. Twice, he’s been named IBMA’s Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year. He’s toured with several bands such as Blue Moon Rising, NewFound Road, Band of Ruhks, Dan Tyminski Band and Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder. Following his own muse, the self-produced Fall Like Rain has a unique Americana flair that continues to solidify Moses’ reputation as a true artist, an impressive talent with inspiring tunes. Building on his bluegrass background, Moses’ contemporary sound is a visionary one with new acoustic interpretive twists. Opening with a driving, grassified arrangement of Eric Clapton’s “Fall Like Rain,” we know we’re in for a remarkable set of hot picking and singing.  All four instrumentals composed by Moses are tastefully rendered. “Taxland” has Gypsyjazz flavorings, while “Watershed” and “Locust Hill” are engaging. “Wise & Born” features Moses playing the Weissenborn guitar. Moses also co-penned a couple of the vocal tracks. “Walking to Lebanon” incorporates Middle Eastern influences provided by a couple Iraqi percussionists. While he sings lead on a few numbers, he also features three great guest lead vocalists (Del McCoury, Dan Tyminski, Shawn Lane). Other musicians are Sierra Hull (his wife since 2017), Bryan Sutton, Cody Kilby, Barry Bales, Stuart Duncan, Michael Cleveland, Jason Carter, Ethan Jodziewicz and Jerry Douglas. Moses’ Fall Like Rain album has an intensity that’s remarkably powerful and impressively virtuosic. It also has considerable emotional content as Justin Moses’ sound paintings surprise us with various feelings, nuances, colorings and sensitivities. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)