Ward Thomas
Album: Footnotes EP
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 4
Website: http://www.wardthomasmusic.com

Nineteen year old twins, Catherine and Lizzy Ward sound like they have a sound that's more New Hampshire than Hampshire, but that may be because they have been spending a fair amount of time in the States, albeit Nashville rather than New England.

Country has always played a part in the girl's musical upbringing and a trip out to Tennessee saw the duo impressing the locals, particularly with their tight vocal harmonies. I'm not going to get into the debate as to whether or not blood harmonies are any better than non-family ones, suffice to sat, listening to "Footnotes" it has to be said it's easy to understand why they were picked up on.

Catherine and Lizzy also attribute the trip to Nashville as having an impact on the quality of their writing, I don't think it's coincidental that three of the four tracks here have been penned by the girls, the sign off track being their take on the Dougie MacLean classic "Caledonia".

"Footnotes" precedes an album to follow later in the Summer and has really been doing its job in attracting attention to the duo, with extensive radio plays and appearances. This is Americana with a Hampshire accent and I think you're going to be hearing a lot more of it, so it might be best to start familiarising yourself now.

Neil King