Angus and Julia Stone : 'And The Boys'
Released: Out Now!!!
Label: Nettwerk
Aussie brother/sister duo Angus and Julia Stone have somehow managed to evade me for the last couple of years. 'Mango Tree' was first to really alert me to them about three years ago but I’ve since not really followed that interest up. Until now at least.
Their new three-track EP ‘And The Boys’ seems to have been a darn good place to drop back in with them as the title track bounds and bumps along with clever bass and acoustic. On top of that sits Julia Stone’s warm, dulcet, cotton-edged voice. It never deviates too far from the initial theme, only wandering through flittering instruments. Piano enters and disappears beneath the building drums which are then swallowed by soft horns before the whispered lead line develops into a thoughtful, pondering chorus.
Simplicity seems to go hand in hand with the pair, the straining, Angus led ‘Change’ matches ‘And The Boys’ for its straightforwardness. An easy two guitar strum along that allows their harmonies to take centre stage and you can’t help but think they must have millions of bootleg songs knocking around if their this uncomplicated. Again the song drops down for the lead line, only to lift lightly again. They’ve clearly found a formula and they’re sticking with it, and maybe rightly so.
EP closer ‘Take You Away’ is the most expansive of the three, and the wait for the lead line is oh-so worth it. The harmony is spine tingling as Julia sounds more Martha Wainwright than ever. The thick strings pad out the intricate picking guitars and sweetly complement her voice.
I can’t help but feel these last few years I really have missed out on something. And that just about says it all.
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