**** THE FOLKSCENE COLLECTION: FROM THE HEART OF STUDIO A

(Red House)

Listening to this CD is like stumbling into a coffeehouse when the heavyweights have taken over open-mike night. Richard Thompson, the McGariggle Sisters, and Bruce Cockburn have long toiled with grace and power in an acoustic setting. As a result they're right at home at Los Angeles radio station KPFK, where these cuts were recorded over the course of the '90s. The cord that binds these performances is the intimate FolkScene program, where more than 1500 folk, country, and roots musicians have appeared over 28 years of Sunday nights.

Sparklers on this collection come from the steely-eyed realists and gauzy dreamers, all with evocative voices and a command of the solo or barely accompanied setting. The cracked innocence of country natural Iris DeMent's singular voice on the trembling original "Our Town" is like heartbreak distilled in a glass. Dave Alvin's "Barn Burning" roils with sinister imagery and pent-up power, driven by a drumless rockabilly rhythm that would fit in just fine with his old outfit the Blasters. You'll also hear Tish Hinojosa, John Gorka, and Dar Williams among the 13 performers -- most accompanied by guitar -- who share the spotlight.

-- Bill Kisliuk