Reviews
Artist:Rheingans Sisters Album: Start Close In
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: https://rheinganssisters.co.uk/
It is four years since The Rheingans Sisters album RECEIVER which followed quickly on from the amazing BRIGHT FIELD in 2019. The vocals and the rich playing rooted in Traditional Folk is a constant, but the duo have not stood still, with Anna and Rowan's START CLOSE IN, building on the modern minimalism and contemporary edge of their last album. This is music that nods to the droning pulse of The Velvet Underground and John Cale, alongside sometime dissonant acoustic musicians like John Fahey as well as traditional European Folk.
"Devils" is a glorious twist on the supernatural abduction theme that runs through traditional song. This inspired opener overflows with eerie drone mystery from the start, the sisters wonderful vocals swim through punchy music that nods to the dissonance of Lankum and the electric roar of early 70s Steeleye Span. That same edge and menace crackles through the savage beauty of "The Great Devil / Mr Turner's Hornpipe". This is dance music for a moonless walk through the dark woods. Instrumental "Bradmarsch" is a hypnotic duet between violin and jaw harp, again full of atmosphere and mystery. While wordless "Livet Behover Inga Droger" is a gently swirling violin duet. "Un Voltigeur"s a traditional Pyrenean song translated and rewritten by Anna brings the beauty with a sublime banjo and guitar melody, stunning vocals and fellow genre blurrer Daniel Thorne's dreamy saxophone. French Folk Jazz anyone? On paper "Drink Up" overflows with revelry, but there is a gothic doom clouding what becomes a dark tale of the pitiless gig economy, a national anthem for the end of the world, rather than a boozing song. 'Everything is closing...Drink up soon this place is closing'.
The chorus of voices, the distant folk whistle and the insistent beat build a clear picture of a swirling end. With atmospherics "Shade Chaser" is full of summer heat and celebrations as the Rheingan Sisters playing creates an irrepressible pulse. Warm celebration runs through the infectious Occitan traditional song "Si Sabiatz Drolletas" building to a hypnotic end where looping sounds like distant church bells swirl together. By contrast "Marche Ala Cabrette" is a traditional French tune pared back to Violas and shimmering electric notes. Banjo and the dreamy vocal harmonies give a Appalachian feel to the Rheingan's own, but perfect "Old Neptune" as delicate and fragile as the best of The Unthanks. "Over And Over Again" is both beautiful and savage, Folk music alive with the bite of John Cale and expansive guitar of Dean McPhee. The vocal, a mantra of the title repeated and stretched infinitely is an absolute gem, simply beautiful. A slow piece of nuanced mood music that carries you away. Final piece "Purcell's" continues the slowly shifting minimalism as strings and saxophone shimmer together, resonant and full of depth. The last two tracks I could have listened to all night.
Marc Higgins
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Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
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