August List - Handsome Skin

by Malcolm Carter

published: 12 / 6 / 2013

Label: Ubiquity Project Records
Format: CDS

Unnerving and haunting Americana on debut EP from Oxfordshire-based husband-and-wife duo the August List, who take their name from a Willard Grant Conspiracy song

Review

Describing the sound this husband-and-wife duo produce as ‘backwards country porch-folk’ in the press release perfectly paints a true picture of the artists in question. Originally from Dorset but currently residing somewhere in Oxfordshire, Kerraleigh and Martin Child create a chilling take on a sound that has its roots in the country genre. The work of the Handsome Family initially comes to mind, but you have to spend a little time with the music on ‘Handsome Skin’ before its twisted beauty really makes sense. Then other influences seem to creep in. Taking their performing name from a Willard Grant Conspiracy song title, Kerraleigh’s sweet a cappella opening lines on the first song, ‘Bird House Song’, initially have you thinking that you’re in for a chilled-out 15 minutes of laid-back country infused mellowness. But less than a minute into the song you realise that, despite the song being drenched in mandolin, this particular track is more likely to send chills up your spine than chill you out. The foot stomping drums, harmonica and Martin’s dynamic acoustic strumming lend an unsettling punk attitude to the song despite that mandolin weaving in and out. It works extremely well. Even though on first listen the song doesn’t really register as being all that strong, it’s one of those songs that you find yourself returning to time and again. It has that unexplainable magical quality of calling you back for just one more listen, and as the song becomes more familiar you can’t help but feel that Kerraleigh’s haunting vocals are doing just that, floating around your head until you hear the song again. ‘Death Penalty’ displays more of the duo’s obvious punk rock influence> The rawness, not only in this song but in all four songs that make up this EP, recalls the work of the White Stripes which, although a comparison that both Kerraleigh and Martin are no doubt sick of hearing by now, does ring true. If you’re going to be compared to another duo, then surely the White Stripes must be top of most musicians list? But the August List are far, so far, from being mere White Stripes copyists. While Martin is undoubtedly more than adept at wringing out primitive yet compelling sounds from his guitar and percussion instruments, it’s Kerraleigh’s vocals that really make these songs. While Martin takes lead vocals on the bluesy ‘Forty-Rod Of Lightnin’ and shows that he’s a singer of some calibre, especially on this type of song, it’s Kerraleigh’s stirring backing vocals that provide the ‘fairy dust’ on this track. While the darkness that hangs over the opening song doesn’t lift very much during the following two songs despite the twists and turns that the duo inject into each track to keep things interesting, the closing song, ‘Homeland’ does show that there’s tenderness in Kerraleigh’s vocals that hasn’t been on show before. With Ian Marriss adding weeping pedal steel and ghostly backing vocals and matching harmonica from Kerraleigh it appears that the duo have saved the best until the last. ‘Homeland’, is an atmospheric piece of music, superbly played and sung and worth the price of the EP alone. It’s here, right at the end of the EP, where the duo really come into their own and create that magical song that you’ve known they were capable of since first hearing Kerraleigh’s unaccompanied vocals on the opening song. ‘Handsome Skin’ is a perfect introduction to the obvious talents of both Kerraleigh and Martin Child. It’s short enough to hold your attention and leave you wanting more, and the duo manage to encompass all the many different sides to their music across just four songs. If you like your Americana with an edge you are going to love the August List.