Wonderful, dreamy harmonised music from sisters Emily, Jessica and Camilla (Staveley-Taylor), The Staves.
it is one of those albums where you’ll need to have a listen a few times and when you hit the wavelength you’ll know
This Staves record was actually released in March this year but it has been on my ‘to listen to’ list for most of this year. Produced by Justin Vernon, a.k.a Bon Iver in Wisconsin , these Watford sisters have presented a record of huge depth. But it is one of those albums where you’ll need to have a listen a few times and when you hit the wavelength you’ll know.
I might have expected a record littered with heartbreak, pain and dashed love given the three sister line-up, but apart from ‘Don’t You Call Me Any More’ and a couple of others, this is not the case. Themes are hard to identify in the lyrics, notwithstanding this, the music and the blood related harmonies are perfectly produced and seldom over played. ‘Black & White’ is the stand out track for me, ‘Teeth White’ is great listen too.
There is a purity to the vocals, silk not cotton, and the clarity and clean lines of the production allow the acoustic guitars to stand on the wide stage with the vocals.
An excellent album from The Staves, my favourite thus far, just a shame it has been sat there for six months.
My Track Rating
Blood I Bled ***
Steady ***
No Me, No You, No More ****
Let Me Down ****
Black & White ****
Damn It All ****
The Shining ***
Don’t You Call Me Any more ***
Horizons ****
Teeth White ****
Make It Holy ****
Sadness don’t own me ***
Released March 2015
12 Tracks, 45 minutes