Black Feathers - Strangers We Meet

by Malcolm Carter

published: 28 / 2 / 2014

Label: Bird in Hand Records
Format: CD

Stunning Americana on debut EP from Gloucestershire-based two-piece, the Black Feathers

Review

Another British male/female duo, this time based in Gloucestershire, whose music has its roots in a place far, far away from where it’s made. Sian Chandler and Ray Hughes make their recording debut with a five track EP, ‘Strangers We Meet’, and, while there are traces of English folk music scattered throughout the songs, the duo’s obvious love of Americana shines through brilliantly which, while maybe nothing new or earth-shattering, when coupled with their beautiful harmonies makes for some stunning music. The duo have only been performing as the Black Feathers since May 2012 but performed at over eighteen festivals last summer, including The Cambridge Folk Festival but maybe what is most telling is that they have also recently completed an eight-date tour in and around Nashville and will be returning there this spring. Sian and Ray were also awarded The 5 Valleys Folk Award 2013, so it’s obvious there’s something happening here. There’s no shortage of outstanding female singers at the moment, and Sian Chandler certainly has a voice that sets her apart from the crowd; she’s an expressive vocalist who can display emotion without the need to resort to vocal theatrics or even raise her voice but, despite being one of those vocalists you would gladly listen to singing her weekly shopping list, it’s when Sian harmonises with Ray Hughes that the magic really happens. The title song which opens the EP captivates the listener from the off. The way the duo’s voices blend together as soon as the song begins leaves you in no doubt that here is a couple who were born to sing together. With the recent sad passing of Phil Everly fresh in our minds, the immediate comparison to the brothers' close harmony singing was maybe an obvious and unfair one; maybe we are looking for those glorious Everly Brothers harmonies everywhere now that any remaining chance we had to hear them has been taken from us, but you don’t get too far into this song before realising that the Black Feathers actually deserve that comparison; they really are that good. The addition of Anna Jenkins' string playing adds to the atmosphere of the song. It is a beautifully produced, played and sung piece of music and the perfect introduction to the talents of both Sian Chandler and Ray Hughes. But, as good as that opening cut is, ‘You Will Be Mine’ is the real highlight here. It’s not the only melancholic song on the EP; this type of sad song really suits the duo, but the vocal performance from both singers is close to breathtaking on this particular track. The duo, who produced the songs along with former Viarosa front man Richard Neuberg, obviously know how to get the best out of each other vocally. ’10,000 Times’ and to a lesser degree the closing song, ‘All Came Down’ show the rockier side of the Black Feathers. While these two songs would be considered brilliant on any other collection, the slower songs which feature on this EP display show so much emotion they really leave the brace of more upbeat songs in the shade. That said, ‘All Came Down’ is so catchy; it’s the tune that stays in your head for the rest of the day after just one play .and there’s little doubt that hearing these two songs live would be a rewarding experience. It’s just that as we have just five songs on ‘Strangers We Meet’ and as the slower songs can’t fail to touch the listener we are left wanting more songs in that vein. Ultimately ‘Strangers We Meet’ does what it should do, it introduces the music of The Black Feathers perfectly and shows all sides of the duo’s music. It leaves you wanting to hear a full-length album and hoping that you are going to have the opportunity to catch them live soon, but more than anything it displays just how strong both Sian and Ray are as vocalists. Oh, and did I mention that the duo wrote all the songs and that, on this evidence, they are also a pair of the finest songwriters we currently have in the folk/ Americana field?