Oh, Manchester, So Much To Answer For

so, I've mentioned coastalfolk twice, promising to write about it once, and have yet to deliver the goods. well, damn; I guess it's time. this is the second compilation released by soundside studio of ocracoke, nc (po box 596, ocracoke, nc 27960, or contact gary mitchell electronically); the first was 1998's ocrafolk. that's a disc which "documented the wide variety of musical talent present on tiny ocracoke island, nc (pop. 700)" (from the liner notes to coastalfolk): mostly folk and bluegrass, mostly songs about life on ocracoke and the outer banks of north carolina. mostly splendid stuff. coastalfolk expands the concept, including songs from & about the entire nc coast. most selections were recorded live at the "ocrafolk opry," a weekly jam session-cum-performance series held at ocracoke's deepwater theater. highlights include "governor edward hyde" by jules garrish, an oldtimer on the island who still speaks with a distinct "hoi toide" accent (the song is about one of the ocracoke ferries); noah paley's "moonlight still," which isn't on either of his 2 superb albums of (largely) acoustic folk; and the tuneful, classic folk/bluegrass music of molasses creek, who not only have 2 songs featured, but back many of the other musicians on the disc. simple music from a simple place: refreshing as a sea breeze.