The Rheingans Sisters
Album: Glad Gold Hearts
Label: RootBeat
Tracks: 10
Website: https://www.facebook.com/TheRheingansSisters

I was surprised to discover that "Glad Gold Hearts" is fiddle-singer duo, The Rheingans Sisters, debut album together. I was aware of both musicians through other projects, Rowan primarily via her being part of Lady Maisery, Anna via a couple of live events. Another family element to the album is that a number of the instruments, including both fiddles, come from the hands and handicraft of Helmut Rheingans.

Over the past few years, I've really been getting into the music of Scandinavia and to a lesser extent other Baltic countries, there appears to be a very rich scene going on there, so I was really glad to hear Rowan & Anna bring those influences into "Glad Gold Hearts" and mix them with the more recognisable fiddle tunes and songs from England, Scotland and America, it really does give the album a diversity and a distinct edge.

That's not in any way to detract from the strength of the singing that permeates the album. I'm not going to get into the old blood harmony discussion, suffice to say you get the feeling that with the duo growing up listening to and singing with each other on a regular basis gave the green light to take a risk or two on the vocal arrangement and it's a risk they definitely pull off.

Even so for me the highlight of the album is when they are in twin fiddle attack mode, it really is totally evocative regardless of if they're using it to support the voice or simply the tune, it gives The Rheingans Sisters a dynamic that I don't recall hearing anywhere else.

Neil King