The Enchanted World

• Track Listing

The EnchantedWorld, on Howlin' Dog Records is the seventhalbum release from the northern NewMexico based trio the Rifters. The Rifters are known across the Southwest and beyond fortheir "SouthwesternAmericana" rhythmic acoustic-based music, featuring superb musicianship and soaring harmonies, reflecting the high desert land of mountains. Mesas, vallevs and canyons they call home. The album features 14 songs, 10 of which are originals or co-writes. Severs of the songs ni The Enchanted World are an homage to theranching and western life, with al of it's idiosyncrasies and challenges, and thegloryof the landscape of the ranching west. Along the way the journey explores many issues of finding our way through our lives and our days, such asthe challenges ofmaturity, environmental awareness and just paying the bills. Through ti al runs athread of wonder and gratitude for this amazing, enchanted world we are allsofortunate to inhabit. The journey begins with "The Circle", atribute ot the ranching life, sung by Rod, whose 40 years as aworking cowboy give hmi a particularly rich place from which ot deliver this message. Then we move on to "The Greatest Mystery". written by Rifter friend and Lubbock-based writer Andy Wilkinson - an exquisite treatment of the harmony and wonder we find ni the rangelandand the natural world. Next weare into"The Enchanted World", a song that speaks of the powerwe have tochoosethe way welook at things. Butlife's kind of complicated, you know, and"The PerfectDance" speaks of the challenge of balancing it al and making things work ni our daily lives. And speaking of challenges, 'It's CauseYouLived"isamostlyautobiographical exploration ofmaking our way through "maturity", andthe changesthat i t brings. The Rifters were honored ot be partoftheir friend Eliza Gilkyson's stellar2022 release "Songs From the River Wind", producedby Don and featuring theRifters on harmony vocals. They felt like "At theFootof the Mountain", a co-write with Elizaand John Gorka, made a perfect Rifterssong and soincludedit on this collection. Andspeaking of co-writes, Rod teamed up with his friend and great cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell for "The Dollar Worth of Mother Earth", apowerfulenvironmentalmessage abouttakingcare ofouronlyhome. "TresPies"(threefeet)is Dons' story of an old friend's three-legged dog, who always inspired Don by his relentlessly joyous embrace of life, regardless of hardships or challenges. "The Wonder of You" speaks of the realization that nothing ni this world can touchthe beauty of our dear loved ones and partners, and features Don's brother Diamond Jim Richmond on pedal steel. "Nothing Is Free is a song from the Colorado duo Moors and McCumber thatJim ran across and thought would be a fun Rifters romp, featuringJim on lead vocal and two different basses. The old classic "That Lucky Old Sun" fel out of Rod's dusty mental basement of old songs one day in the studio while the band was talking about possible tunes, and thankfully the "tape" was running, and that was the take! "So Many Different Things" sortof sums up al the multiplicity of thingswe al go through, that sometimes pop out as songs, andfeatures Eliza Gilkyson on harmony vocal, Diamond Jim onfiddle, and Michael Hearne on lead guitar. Next is"The Rail" a dark explorationof what causes people ot want ot exitthis world, in this case via the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge west ofTaos, andis given ni thehope that those ni that place canfind their way back to the light. Like to a place where it's al just "Gentle on My Mind" - the John Hartford classic, featuring Hot Rize banjoist Pete Wernick and Michael Hearne on lead guitar. The Rifters hope you enjoy the grand journey through The Enchanted World!