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Peter Mulvey has been around the singer-songwriter/Americana scene for a long time now – there’s pushing on for 20 years worth of back catalogue – but he’s right to be particularly excited about this new release.
 As you’d expect from a performer and songwriter with such a pedigree, this is his 18th (dependent on whose stats you believe) album, and Mulvey has played with the great and the good of the folk and Americana scene that includes Emmylou Harris, Richard Thompson, Greg Brown plus numerous others and he’s recruited Chuck Prophet to play guitar and produce Silver Ladder.
‘Lies You Forgot You Told’ kicks the album off full of confidence and probably refers to…

 …the turbulent part of his life he’s recently emerged from; and the details of that episode are unclear, but there may be a clue in the title. ‘You Don’t Have To Tell Me’ bounces along with the “I Already Know” response in the refrain. Track three ‘Sympathies’ continues in the same up-tempo anthemic vein and explores the loyalties of an un-named individual.

 For the past year, Mulvey committed himself to writing one song a week and they came flooding out and he ended up with more than enough for ‘Silver Ladder’. Presumably there are a few tucked away in preparation for his next outing? The slightly funky ‘What Else Was It?” lays down a cool groove that allows some subtle guitar playing from Prophet (or is it fellow Mission Express guitarist James DePrato?). ‘Trempealeau’ is a beautiful acoustic led love song that examines honesty and I assume refers to the Wisconsin vacation spot, whereby perhaps love ended? Nickel Creek’s Sara Watkins accompanies Mulvey on ‘Where Did You Go?’ and whilst it’s a good enough song, there’s something about it that doesn’t engage these ears. ‘Copenhagen Airport’ is a seemingly a swampy tinged guitar instrumental groove, until he repeats the simple two lines of lyric midway through.

enjoy