A Gathering of Moments

Album Review

A Gathering of Moments (2005) finds Mustard's Retreat in a mellow mood. Listening to the first two easygoing instrumental cuts, one would never guess that it was the same Mustard's Retreat from the '70s, though it is. The duo of Michael Hough and David Tamulevich return to more familiar folk territory with "Something That You Said," a relaxed bit of singer/songwriter wisdom with a matching backdrop. Hough and Tamulevich are joined by a number of guests, allowing for slightly larger arrangements, but the overall sound is mostly acoustic and low-key. The instrumental work on "Dragonfly" and "Afternoon on Ripley Lake" are too folk-based to qualify as easy listening. These pieces also serve as mood-buffers between songs, and keep A Gathering of Moments from running together in a mush of singer/songwriter observations. The album will probably appeal most to the group's older fans, aging folkies who have mellowed a tad since the '70s. They will also appreciate the upbeat quality of Tamulevich's writing; even when his lyrics touch on subjects like failed relationships in "Rather Be Lonely," he still manages to sound inspiring. A Gathering of Moments works as a companion piece to Mustard's Retreat's MR7, released the same year. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide