Turn the clock back 70 years, western swing-influenced Cajun string bands ride again. Well, not exactly, but at least no one will accuse Lafayette’s Lost Bayou Ramblers of being the next wannabe knockoff. Instead, they symbolize an era that’s been sadly neglected by today’s sound-alike purveyors, that being the ’30s when the Hackberry Ramblers dropped the squeezebox and everyone followed suit. Key in making this fine throwback style work is Andre Michot’s jukin’ lap steel that shifts between growls, howls, chirps and chimes, sometimes even sounding like an Italian motorbike popping out of first gear. But it all pops, wheels wobbling all the way, yet never veering off course with brother Louie’s sly, rustic fiddling and the slappy-loose rhythms of bull fiddler Alan LaFleur, guitarist Jon Bertran and drummer Chris Courville. They hoist the Hackberry banner sky high with “Faut Pas tu Brailles” and “Une Piastre Ici, Une Piastre Là-Bas,” swing Happy Fats’ “Tite Fille de Lafayette” and toss in plenty of snappy stops on JB Fuselier’s “Pine Island.” Cool stuff indeed, but so are Louie’s aptly named “Papa Lou Hop” and the downbeat foot-stompin’ “Blue Moon Special.” Though string’s the thing, several selections feature—gasp—an accordion, played by Andre, who incidentally, has a smoother delivery these days. They may say they’re lost rambling in the bayous, but don’t let ’em kid ya: these guys know exactly where they’re headed.