Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley Living In A Song (CD)

(Compass Records) 12 tracks, digisleeve.

American roots music has produced a number of popular duos over the years - from The Monroe Brothers and Flatt & Scruggs to modern pairings like the Milk Carton Kids and The War and Treaty - but few have wowed audiences as much as Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley. Built on the interplay of Ickes' dobro and Hensley's six-string guitar, the only thing that outshines the virtuosity of this group's instrumental performances is their singing and songwriting.

On "Living In A Song," Ickes and Hensley showcase their songwriting skills in a set of 12 songs, five of which they co-wrote with GRAMMY-winning producer Brent Maher (The Judds, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson). In classic Nashville fashion, the three honed in on some 30 songs before selecting the dozen that would make up "Living In A Song." Paying homage to the troubadours who shaped the Nashville sound Nashville sound, the duo made a conscious decision to steer the music stylistically in a classic country direction, with elements of Americana and bluegrass thrown in for good measure.