Sarah Lee Langford and Will Stewart - Bad Luck and Love

by Zena Grieg

published: 20 / 2 / 2023

Sarah Lee Langford and Will Stewart - Bad Luck and Love

Label: Cornelius Chapel Records
Format: CD

Engrossing and tantalizing new album from Alabama singer-songwriters Sarah Lee Langford and Will Stewart

Review

Frequent collaborators Alabama singer-songwriters Sarah Lee Langford and Will Stewart have brought out a new record together, an engrossing bluegrass, country-folk album with Stewart’s darker vocals complemented by Langford’s textured harmonies. Themes of resilience, getting by and exploration abound with an innate sense of place resonating throughout. Songs to listen out for in this nine- track collection include : the opener, the cynical ‘Staring At The Sun’, described by Langford: “Along with everyone who’s ever been burned, I tell myself I’m not going down that road again… this song serves as my very own reminder that risk and reward are two sides of the same coin”; the plaintive ‘Robby’ about a retired rodeo rider, who has only memories to fall back on; the twangy ‘Gunpowder’, underpinned by an ominous steel pedal guitar; the only co-written song, the melancholy waltz and title track on a couple persisting in a loveless marriage for the sake of the children: “This house built on bad luck and love, so we’re hanging on”; and the closer, the bitter ‘False Alarm’ about a disintegrating relationship. Highlighting their strong vocal and lyrical skills, ‘Bad Luck and Love’ is a self-assured record, which coming in at just half an hour, casts a short but tantalizing light on their future potential as a duo.