Ethemia
Album: Quirk Of Fate
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.reverbnation.com/ethemia

"Quirk Of Fate" kicks off with the powerful and thought provoking "Fingerprints On Me", a love song that is full of images of obsession and possession and which lays down a marker that Ethemia are a duo more than happy to dip a toe, foot, leg into the darker side of the human condition.

"Quirk Of Fate" actually came out a little while ago, but only recently came to my attention and did so amongst speculation that it won't be long before the acoustic guitar duo, Michaela Mott and Berny Poulton, are back in the studio again.

With both Berny and Michaela taking lead on songs there are times when the album almost seems to play off its self. It's very naturalistic in its construction, if it wasn't for the lack of between song banter you can almost feel the set list developing and that's no bad thing as there is a real sense of story arc that flows across the recording.

Whilst there is an Englishness that permeates through the recording, you can also pick up where the duo have been influenced by our North American cousins and whilst never fully getting to Americana you can hear those elements of American folk in some of the songs.

One thing I do find interesting about the album, is the relative lack of harmonies, apart from the occasional sections of backing singing, sometimes carrying a second narrative/perspective, both singers tend to perform as a solo artist on the songs and I was surprised how much of a refreshing change that came across as being. When they use harmonies, it tends to be for emphasis.

Ethemia have only been together a relatively short time, but seem to have a real chemistry about them, something only enhanced by what seems like a slight West Country lilt. "Quirk Of Fate" an assured debut that more than lives up to its opening promise.

Neil King