[Cover photo credit by Teri McCartney]
Northern New Mexico-based Folk trio The Rifters have released their seventh album, The Enchanted World, on Howlin’ Dog Records. The Rifters specialize in what they call “Southwestern Americana”, which is rhythmic acoustic-based music “reflecting the high desert land of mountains, mesas, valleys and canyons” of their home.
The new album features 14 songs, 10 of which are originals or co-writes. Several of the songs in The Enchanted World are “homage to the ranching and western life.” Other themes include the “challenges of maturity, environmental awareness and just paying the bills.”
The Rifters also took part in their friend Eliza Gilkyson’s 2022 release Songs From the River Wind, featuring the Rifters on harmony vocals. Therefore they felt like “At the Foot of the Mountain”, a co-write with Eliza Gilkyson and John Gorka, should be included it on this collection.
The Rifters formed in 2002 in the music scene of Taos, New Mexico when members of two popular bands already active in the area, Jim Bradley and Don Richmond of Hired Hands, and Rod Taylor of The Rounders, decided to join forces to form The Rifters. The years of playing to the dance crowds in their northern New Mexico homeland has given their music an engaging rhythm.
