{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Wider Circles | type = studio | artist = Rising Appalachia | cover = Rising_Appalachia_-_Wider_Circles_-_album_cover_art.jpg | alt = Cover art of Rising Appalachia's 2015 album, Wider Circles | released = July 17, 2015 | recorded = | venue = | studio = {{ubl|Echo Mountain Recording|{{small|(Asheville, NC)}}}} | genre = Appalachian folk, world, soul | length = | label = Independent | producer = | prev_title = Filthy Dirty South | prev_year = 2012 | next_title = Alive | next_year = 2017 }} '''''Wider Circles''''' is the fifth studio album by American Appalachian band Rising Appalachia. It was recorded at Echo Mountain Recording<ref>{{discogs release|9452128|Wider Circles}}</ref> in Asheville, North Carolina, and was released on July 17, 2015.{{sfn|Levitt|2015}}
==Background== Leah Song coined the term "Slow Music Movement" while preparing for a TedX talk.{{sfn|Keyframe Entertainment|2016}} During their ''Wider Circles'' Rail Tour, the band travelled by Amtrak train. Song connected this with the "Slow Music Movement", which she described as exploring the question as to how music can be a public service,{{sfn|Bernhardt|2015}} saying:
{{blockquote|We want to have relationships with the farmers and the food of each region and also to have a relationship with different educational initiatives and non-profits. We have a policy that at each show at least two non-profits are welcome, invited — non-profits or educational initiatives, arts justice projects — to the show to set up tables and let the audiences know, as well as ourselves, what’s going on locally.{{sfn|Ogbonna|2015}} }}
==Critical reception== Amy Lieberman, who reviewed ''Wider Circles'' for ''NYS Music'', wrote "Seamlessly covering the entire spectrum of musical genres, ranging from traditional music of the American South highlighting the banjo and fiddle, to world music featuring African drums, there’s something on this album for everyone to enjoy."{{sfn|Lieberman|2015}} Desdemona Dallas, reviewing for ''Lost in Sound'', noted that "Songs 'Medicine' and 'Oh Death' light upon the Smith sisters’ wordsmithing ways as slam poets."{{sfn|Dallas|2015}} Thandiwe Ogbonna, writing for ''No Depression'', said
{{blockquote|The talents of Biko Casini (world percussion) and David Brown (stand-up bass/baritone guitar) pair with Leah and Chloe’s signature vocal harmonies and banjo/fiddle duets to explore elements of folk, jazz, and soul and topics ranging from mountaintop removal to herbal medicine.{{sfn|Ogbonna|2015}} }}
John Malkin, writing for ''Spirituality & Health Magazine'' noted that "The inviting songs of ''Wider Circles'' focus on community, gratitude, and healing."{{sfn|Malkin|2015}} Not all reviewers were enthusiastic; Jonathan Levitt, writing for ''Blurt'' gave the album a 3-star review, yet summarized the album as "An organic chilled vibe that provides a much-needed antidote to the processed tripe found on the radio these days."{{sfn|Levitt|2015}}
==Track listing== {{cite AV media |people=Rising Appalachia |year=2015 |title=Wider Circles |type=CD |publisher=Independent}} {{track listing |title1=Novels of Acquaintance |length1=6:28 |title2=Lean In |length2=3:38 |title3=Fall On My Knees |length3=4:44 |title4=Rivermouth |length4=3:52 |title5=Oh Death |length5=6:47 |writer5=Traditional |title6=An Invitation |length6=2:40 |title7=Medicine |length7=4:25 |title8=Find Your Way |length8=4:45 |title9=Synchronicity |length9=3:32 |title10=Cripple Creek |length10=4:52 |writer10=Traditional |title11=Condensation |note11=Interlude |length11=1:17 |title12=Spirit's Cradle |length12=4:44 |title13=Wider Circles |length13=5:13 |title14=Bright Morning Stars / Botawak |length14=6:37 |writer14=Traditionals |title15=Stromboli |length15=4:44 }}
==References== ===Citations=== {{reflist|30em}}
===Works cited=== *{{cite news |last=Bernhardt |first=Erin |title=The Slow Music Movement |date=April 29, 2015 |work=Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erin-levin/the-slow-music-movement_b_7155862.html |access-date=May 8, 2015 }} *{{cite news |first=Desdemona |last=Dallas |date=April 28, 2015 |work=Lostinsound.org |title=Traditions of Musical Alchemy: Rising Appalachia ‘Wider Circles’ Album Review |url=http://lostinsound.org/traditions-of-musical-alchemy-rising-appalachia-wider-circles-album-review/ |access-date=2022-01-01}} *{{cite news |author=Keyframe Entertainment |title=Interview with Rising Appalachia and Permaculture Action Network |url=http://realitysandwich.com/319718/interview-with-rising-appalachia-and-permaculture-action-network/ |work=Reality Sandwich |date=March 18, 2016 |access-date=May 19, 2016 }} *{{cite news |last=Levitt |first=Jonathan |date=July 23, 2015 |title=Rising Appalachia - Wider Circles |work=Blurt |url=https://blurtonline.com/review/rising-appalachia-wider-circles/ |access-date=2022-01-01}} *{{cite news |title=Hearing Aide: Rising Appalachia’s ‘Wider Circles’ |first=Amy |last=Lieberman |date=April 14, 2015 |work=NYS Music |url=https://nysmusic.com/2015/04/14/hearing-aide-rising-appalachias-wider-circles |access-date=2022-01-01}} *{{cite magazine |last=Malkin |first=John |date=May 1, 2015 |title=Rising Appalachia: Wider Circles |magazine=Spirituality & Health Magazine |volume=18 |number=3 |page=68 |url=https://www.spiritualityhealth.com/reviews/music/2015/05/21/music-review-rising-appalachia |access-date=2021-12-29}} *{{cite web |last=Ogbonna |first=Thandiwe |date=April 29, 2015 |title=Rising Appalachia's Leah Smith on Wider Circles, the Rail Tour, & the Slow Music Movement |work=No Depression |url=https://www.nodepression.com/interview/rising-appalachias-leah-smith-on-wider-circles-the-rail-tour-the-slow-music-movement/ |access-date=2022-01-01}}
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Category:Rising Appalachia albums Category:2015 albums