Falling Forward

Vermont-based Lissa Schneckenburger is a master of New England folk music, the traditional niche which she has carved out. With her sweet, plaintive voice, fiddle wizardry and stirring original songs, she brings fresh life and immediacy to the genre.

Like many inspired works of the past few years, Falling Forward was born out of the pandemic during which Schneckenburger wrote prolifically. Eight of these ten cuts are original, and they mesh seamlessly with the two traditional folk numbers she’s included.

Some of her favorite musicians accompany her here: Natalie Haas (cello), Rachel Aucoin (piano), Karen Tweed (accordion), Mali Obomsawin (double bass) and Katie McNally, who produced Falling Forward and also plays fiddle.

These instruments mesh exquisitely on instrumentals like the title tune, the evocative “Susan’s Garden March/Summer Rain,” the jaunty “Step Aside/Move on Over/Patriarchy is Dead,” the powerful “Someday Soon” and the haunting “For the Millions.” Many of the selections have a stately and lovely contra-dance-like formality with finely wrought melodies.

Schneckenburger only sings on a pair of intriguing ballads — “Cruel Mother” and “Benjamin Deane” — but her meditative vocals are exquisite, full of longing, wistfulness and pathos.