Williamsburg’s Emma Ayres sews together eight songs of country folk magistery on her latest LP hard work. More than a solo strummer, Ayres heads up an ensemble of strings, and keys, and brass, and skins to evoke life and heartache in the dew-dropped hills of western Massachusetts.

Tracks like “milktooth,” “gas station rose,” and the title track “hard work” spin yarns of country wisdom, while avoiding the excesses of backwoods kitsch. Her Ayres’ vocals dip a little into Loretta Lynn-twang, but mostly find a more contemporary vibe.

Our highlighted track “goddamn, sylvia” kicks out a catchy refrain through the first three minutes before rediscovering itself as a New England meetinghouse-style singalong.

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