The newest release by Kristen Grainger and True North, ”Fear of Falling Stars,” is a delightful journey through the hearts and minds of Kristen and Dan Wetzel, her musical and life partner.  

Every aspect of this offering is crafted with intention and meticulous detail, executed with precision while remaining fresh and loose, reflecting two decades of close musical partnership. Their sound is organic and built from the ground up, literally, as many of the instruments played by Kristen and Dan are handcrafted by Dan, with most of the songs written by Kristen or Dan. Their recordings are engineered at Big Owl studios in Sisters, Oregon by long time former band member Dale Adkins. Martin Stevens and Josh Adkins (yes related) round out the band on mandolins, fiddle and bass. 

The shared vision of this collaboration is profoundly apparent.

The engineering of this record is superb. All the instruments somehow always find their home in your ears, settling into their respective roles of highlighting the pure vocals and amazing lyrics, always the centerpiece of a True North record.  

This collection could be their most diverse offering yet, expanding their bluegrass and folk americana roots to dip into crossover pieces with jazz and swing that bring the musical ride of the project around yet one or two more curves in the landscape.

Speaking of the musical ride, the flow of the ten songs is as thoughtfully arranged as a wine tour through the rolling hills of the mid Willamette Valley. Starting bittersweet, perhaps tragic, Don’t Take Me Back, explores the realization that you’re addicted to what hurts you “… the devil that you know is never better…” to bust a popular myth. You feel the sad tension, touch of desperation.  

In Go–Nowhere Town, again, perspective is the tool as a homecoming is not always happy, and “… the corner of redemption and chagrin…”  is where you go in rough times, where they have to take you in…” 

The disappointment becomes magnified to certified anger and perhaps disgust in Extraordinary Grace, where the view is broad and the focus of razor sharp helplessness leaves you unexpectedly pessimistic.. “… killing time, until time returns the favor…” perhaps my favorite line in the record.

Around the proverbial mountain we go as the record takes a lighter hearted, sentimental, and romantic turn, beginning with the cover of Darrell Scott and Tim O’Brien’s Memories and Moments. This song features beautiful four-part harmonies and is nicely arranged. A little steam is generated with the classically arranged bluegrass piece Across the Mountains, only a little out of control, as even this slash and burn bluegrass breakup story is firmly on the rails musically.  Martin Stevens’ fiddle is featured and is wonderful.

Turning from the matches and kerosene, we arrive at the literal heart of the record, as Dan and Kristen trade heartfelt love songs.  I can feel the kindness in Dan’s voice in The Little Things, and the gratitude and realization that every moment is a gift, when the feeling is right.  

In The Avalanche, Kristen displays her songwriting diversity in this visually stunning piece, in contrast with the emotionally stunning works that start the record.  It also contains what turned out to be a big ear worm for me in the refrain … look out!

After the love-fest of full bodied varietals, Dan eases us to the chardonnay of the tour with new sounds and the first instrumental, Pent Up, since their very first release, 6 records and 19 years ago.  This jazzy influenced acoustic arrangement carries a theme reminiscent of the theme from the Exorcist, and the mandolin suggests “mission impossible” in one memorable lick… however the beauty of this piece is how the free improvisation resolves back to hand the theme to the next player. Loose yet structured, beautifully executed, classic True North.  

The perfectly placed What Might Have Been exposes Dan’s vulnerability, and spoke to me as one who hasn’t spoken up when I could have.. and perhaps missed opportunities… maybe that’s universal, and maybe that’s what makes this such a lovely song.

Like all finely wrapped packages, “Fear of Falling Stars” is adorned with a gorgeous bow of a song, Stop Me If I Told You This Before.  Warning, this song is capable of tears… The sentimental recall of someone lost evokes the loneliness.  â€œ… cherry blossom petals fall on a cemetery wall….” reflects the beauty and bittersweet this song brings to me, a personal story of Kristen’s mother who found herself isolated in the covid lockdowns.

Give this record a listen, and you will give it airplay.

Marc Albert 
Americana Alley