Chicago-based bluegrass act The Special Consensus maintain a 30-year-strong commitment to traditional bluegrass music with their upcoming release Signs. Shades of gospel and rich vocal harmonies abound among fast pickers, country ballads and spirituals.

In addition to having formidable playing chops, band members Greg Cahill (banjo), Justin Carbone (guitar), Ashby Frank (mandolin, and Galax champion), and David Thomas (bass) are also skilled harmony singers. This vocal element distinguishes The SC from their musical peers, which is evident throughout Signs.

The title track starts the album in stock-and-trade bluegrass form and fashion. “Gone to Carolina” is rich with The SC’s vocal harmonies, and speaks about leaving a life behind to seek a dream. There are great instrumental breaks all around, and the lyric “I could close my eyes and be with you right now” speaks to how we deal with distance between us and those we love.

The minor-key lament “Too Late Now” opens with a slinky guitar and bass intro. This tune is the first to feature guest dobro player Randy Kohrs, who, in addition to Cahill and Carbone, pens some fine solos. “Too Late Now” is somewhat of a bluegrass rarity in that the lyrics portray a love lost sans the deceitful woman.

Traditional bluegrass gender roles reaffirm themselves in the up-tempo “Lonesome Lesson Learned,” during which the storyteller realizes how bad his woman is. Find some fantastic breaks here by Kohrs, as well as signature SC vocal harmonies on the chorus.

The spiritual ballad “Footprints” is ready for Sunday morning, and features delicate mando and fiddle voicings. Images of being lost at sea are transformed into hopeful inspiration drawn from Christ walking on water. This pace is momentarily shifted with “Snowball Breakdown,” another foot-stompin’ flat-footer—then, we return to the valley of the spirit with the gospel-inspired “I’ll Go to My Grave Loving You.” The antiphonal call-and-response singing tells of pledging a lifelong love.

The cautionary tale “Talkin’ Bout it Just Don’t Get it Done” is a fun excursion into parallel lyrical phrasing, and addresses someone who just can’t get it together. Next is a nice opportunity for some great mando and guitar breaks in the Bluegrass Cardinals cover “Mountain Girl.” This is followed by a tale of the urge to ramble in “Leaving This Old Town.” Hear again nice SC vocal harmonies, as well as particularly tasteful guitar breaks.

The album winds down with the heartbreak ballad “My Heart Breaks Again,” in which the singer must undergo emotional recovery in order to love again. Notice the nice double-stops on the fiddle by guest Tim Crouch. “What A Beautiful Day (For The Lord To Come Again)” closes the record with an up-tempo anticipation of the second coming. The tune is decidedly upbeat about the great and terrible day of the Lord. As the singer yearns to touch the nail-scarred hands of Christ, one can feel that particular protestant yearning for sacred blood and flesh.

John Hildreth lives in Giles County, teaches at Radford University, and plays in the contra dance band Dot Dot Dash.