Jimbo Mathus and Andrew Bird have known each other since the 1990s, when Bird occasionally collaborated with Mathus' swing revival group
Squirrel Nut Zippers. Both men have since followed different musical paths. Mathus dived deeper into folk music from Mississippi and worked a lot as a producer. Bird garnered success with his strong songs and performances as a one-man indie band, in which he made
… skilful use of his loop pedal as a singer, violinist, guitarist and art whistler. The songs on These 13 have been written by the two old friends together over the past few years and for both of them it means a return to the basics of their musical style. It's a sober album, on which you can't hear more than a guitar, violin and two voices. The album sounds like a time travel in many ways: sounds of old American folk genres and gospel. Even the lyrics could have been written 100 years ago. Although it sounds a bit dusty now and then, the craftsmanship of the duo is undisputed. (JV)more
