City of Refuge (Rounder Records, 2011) is Abigail Washburn's second solo album, made after her work with the Sparrow Quartet and with various collaborators in the old-time and folk communities. Washburn — an American who spent years in China studying the language and culture and has made that cross-cultural engagement central to her musical identity — performs on clawhammer banjo with a singing voice shaped by both Appalachian old-time tradition and her deep engagement with Chinese music. The album continues the personal and socially conscious songwriting direction of her debut Song of the Traveling Daughter while reflecting the broadened perspective of a musician who moves freely between American roots and the global folk traditions she encountered during her years of international cultural exchange. City of Refuge established Washburn as one of the most distinctive voices in the contemporary acoustic world.
Tracklist
- 1 Prelude 0:53
- 2 City Of Refuge 3:42
- 3 Bring Me My Queen 4:14
- 4 Chains 3:52
- 5 Ballad Of Treason 3:08
- 6 Last Train 3:56
- 7 Burn Thru 4:27
- 8 Corner Girl 3:25
- 9 Dreams Of Nectar 5:51
- 10 Devine Bell 2:39
- 11 Bright Morning Stars Source Recording 4:40