The Whistles & The Bells - Modern Plagues (2017)

A solo vehicle for singer/songwriter and ex-Cadillac Sky frontman Bryan Simpson, the Whistles & the Bells specialize in an evocative blend of Southern folk, gritty alt-country, and indie gospel, invoking names like Wovenhand, Jason Isbell, Mount Moriah, and Blitzen Trapper. The long-gestating project began percolating shortly after Simpson abruptly left the popular alt-bluegrass ensemble Cadillac Sky in 2010 to spend more time exploring his faith. As Simpson began examining his inner self through songwriting, he chose to launch a new project using the name the Whistles & the Bells, referring to the noisemakers on a train that warn people of what's coming down the track. After a few days of sessions produced by Grammy winner Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Thile, Jars of Clay) and featuring a group of handpicked guest musicians, Simpson had the framework for the debut album from the Whistles & the Bells. Simpson self-released the album in the Nashville area in 2014, and New West struck a deal to give it a nationwide reissue that appeared in August 2015. In February 2017, Simpson released the Brendan Benson co-written "Harry Potter," the first single from the Whistles & the Bells' sophomore studio long-player, Modern Plagues, which arrived later that April.