Frosty folk and wistful Anglo-American blues
Once every so often a band comes along that takes what others have done before them, and adds a unique twist of their own, creating works of ethereally timeless beauty. And very often these bands sit precariously on the cusp of popularity and obscurity. For this generation, Smoke Fairies are such a band.
Smoke Fairies’ blend of dark folk and blues is like listening to the Medieval Bæbes singing with Led Zeppelin, with the faded elegance Roxy Music had and lost a long time ago.
And, like the music, they’re in no rush to prove themselves. Frozen Heart is their second release, after last year’s debut single ‘Living With Ghosts’. One moment the music is a sweetly pastoral English folk twang with medieval influences and wistful harmonies. The next it’s stripped back Delta blues, all delicate fingerpicked and slide guitar. It’s a travelogue of Jessica Davies’ and Katherine Blamire’s experiences in the band’s formative years: that mysterious blend of dirty New Orleans heartache and mellow yet distinct English roots. On the surface the music is soft and flowing, but there’s a toughness to the lyrics and themes that hits the ‘been there, lived that’ soul of the blues.
Don’t let the choral moments fool you, this is no bunch of retro revivalists or hippie wannabies. It’s a hard-edged, thoughtful work of the 21st Century. Anyone who has an ear for a good tune, and an appreciation of finely crafted music should follow Richard Hawley’s and Bryan Ferry’s recommendations and check Smoke Fairies’ chilly autumnal harmonies out.