Sticks And Stones
Album: Into The Wild
Label: Distilled
Tracks: 12
Website: https://www.facebook.com/stickstonemusic

Sticks and Stones are an upcoming gritty folk trio from Dumfries in South West Scotland.

'Into the Wild' is Sticks And Stones debut album, released by Distilled records on October 4. Driven by Aiden Halliday's lyrics and acoustic guitar accompanied with Angus Bruce on keyboards and Pete Wall on electric guitar. Into the Wild proves an impressive first album, especially seeing as it was recorded in just three days.

Some albums you connect to instantly, some not at all and some albums grow on you, the more you listen to it the more the album gives. Into the Wild is an example of this. In the strive to be original in this day and age artists push themselves further which runs the risk of sounding disjointed and giving the impression of trying too hard.

However this is not the case here 'Into the Wild' passes eloquently through belting dirty folk songs such as 'Dark spots' and 'Wolfdance' to softer and more delicate tracks such as 'We are not alone' and '1842'. This is an album that after the first few listens it gets under your skin and you will find yourself listening to the album again and again.

Echoing the sounds of Mumford, Springsteen & Morrison Halliday offers a raw gritty depth to each track, it is almost like entering the wild you are not sure when the tracks will burst out or remain calm, fragile and empathetic.

The album split into 4 parts like chapters of a book: Mountains, Crators, Feet & Mind, it could possibly hint towards the exploration of natures wild tendencies compared with our own inner emotions.

For fans of Frightened Rabbit, Mumford & Sons, Dry The River, & We Were Promised Jetpacks you should give this album a listen. It is a refreshing combination of laid-back swirling tunes to possible feet stomping festival pleasers.

Leah Parker-Turnock