Broken Boat
Album: Peave & Quiet
Label: Which Wolf Wins
Tracks: 7
Website: http://www.brokenboat.co.uk

Broken Boat is an acoustic folk duo comprising vocalist/songwriter/guitarist Daniel Bahrami and multi-instrumentalist Brendan Kearney; originally hailing from Plymouth, they're now based in Hertfordshire. They weave Daniel's heartfelt self-penned lyrics with a soulful, intimate sound that's centred around soft-grained and subtle yet fully present textures that overlay simple acoustic strumming with a modicum of gentle electricity.

The seven songs on Peace And Quiet tell the story of the lads' time in Plymouth, focusing on familiar themes such as love, loss, belonging and uncertainty but almost always with an optimistic, forward-looking slant and a playful, bright-eyed honesty that's rather irresistible. I was reminded variously of the rustic natural charm of Tir Na Nóg or Dr Strangely Strange (Still Young and Let's Find Time To Talk), early Paul Simon (the surprisingly carefree Tall As Timbers), the latter complementing the eager tremulous mentoring of the title song, the glistening devotional epicentre of Yellow Cars and the genial admonishment of Lacklustre.

Brendan's own sense of playfulness extends to his settings for Daniel's songs, which embody a welcome and often very ingenious complexity; the plaintive melancholy of tracks such as Silent Age (what a sad subliminal melody!) is especially well served by this approach, while even when keeping things stripped-back he still manages to provide a perfect foil for Daniel's lyrical flights of fancy.

The attractive delicacy of expression that extends both ways between Daniel and Brendan is reflected too in the sensitive occasional augmentation by guests on piano, accordion, drums and backing vocals. Peace And Quiet literally demands that very stance with your undivided attention, for it really is a distinctly arresting disc, yet at the same time one of charming and rewarding simplicity.

David Kidman