'Dead & Born & Grown' - The Staves
Harmonious beauty.
The three Staveley-Taylor sisters, with three amazing voices,combine to create spine-tingling, delicate folk melodies. Often on this record, the sisters sing just pure A Capella, or with a sole acoustic guitar to produce completely alluring sound. Th entire album, start to finish, embodies bliss. The album, released in November 2012, is the debut album for this very promising folk trio. If this album does, somehow, fail to break The Staves into the mainstream, then a sophomore record could definitely see these sisters follow in the footsteps of Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling and Ben Howard, who are all now regarded as household names on the folk music scene.
The Staveley-Taylor's hail from Watford, and have been tipped as 'ones to watch' for the near future of English music. The English folk scene, truly revived in the 1990's and 00's, is in full swing and is captivating the interest of the mainstream market. 'Dead & Born & Grown' is an record worthy of significant recognition, a truly superb full album in my personal opinion. All too often, an album can fall into a lull in the middle tracks, but that does not apply here. The Staves have not opted for the recently-formed stereotype that is the modern folk artist; tweed waistcoats and a compulsory banjo. When the tracks do instrumentally 'kick-in', the folk-rock vibe is flowing as drums are beat and cymbals crash.
The opening track, 'Wisely & Slow', is beautifully harmonised, and is purely a Capella for the majority of the track. I find this track to evoke references to the Sirens' song, 'Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby', in the soundtrack to 'Oh' Brother Where Art Thou', performed by Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris. This opening track, the angelic voices and crashing cymbals, is one of brilliance and a perfect beginning to a truly excellent record.
The Staves do appear to be offering a different folk sound than what is currently established int today's musical climate. Although, one still must draw from their influences, and it appears that the sisters have set a benchmark against the brilliance of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young as an idyllic vocal performance. Track four, 'Pay Us No Mind', and Track eleven 'Snow' are reminiscent are Laura Marling's earlier work, which is no comparison to be undervalued.
The stand-out song, personally, is Track Nine 'Tongue Behind My Teeth'. One of the more upbeat tracks on this record, but just as beautiful. Perfect harmonies, acoustic guitars and a varied pace have all created a truly superb track, which was released as a single in September 2012. This is The Staves at the the pinnacle their brilliance, a perfect example of just how good their are.
Album Rating: 9/10
The opening track, 'Wisely & Slow', is beautifully harmonised, and is purely a Capella for the majority of the track. I find this track to evoke references to the Sirens' song, 'Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby', in the soundtrack to 'Oh' Brother Where Art Thou', performed by Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris. This opening track, the angelic voices and crashing cymbals, is one of brilliance and a perfect beginning to a truly excellent record.
The Staves do appear to be offering a different folk sound than what is currently established int today's musical climate. Although, one still must draw from their influences, and it appears that the sisters have set a benchmark against the brilliance of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young as an idyllic vocal performance. Track four, 'Pay Us No Mind', and Track eleven 'Snow' are reminiscent are Laura Marling's earlier work, which is no comparison to be undervalued.
The stand-out song, personally, is Track Nine 'Tongue Behind My Teeth'. One of the more upbeat tracks on this record, but just as beautiful. Perfect harmonies, acoustic guitars and a varied pace have all created a truly superb track, which was released as a single in September 2012. This is The Staves at the the pinnacle their brilliance, a perfect example of just how good their are.
Album Rating: 9/10
