Things were looking good for The Civil
Wars: they’d picked up two Grammys, seen their debut album go gold, and won a
legion of fans the world over. And then, suddenly, it all stopped. In November
2012 the genre-blending duo cancelled all forthcoming tour dates without
warning, and the band went on hiatus citing “internal discord and
irreconcilable differences of ambition.” Kind of ironic for a band named The
Civil Wars. The music world waited with baited breath to see what would happen
next...
Fast forward nine months and here we
are. It seems those differences were not quite as irreconcilable as first
thought, and the band are back with a new self-titled album in tow. Raw and
emotional, it’s a stunning record that avoids all the pitfalls of the
‘difficult second album’ and builds upon the strengths of their debut.
The
Civil Wars opens with a bittersweet blues number
that sees Joy Williams lament, “I wish you were the one that got away.” The
rumours that this is directed at bandmate John Paul White are as yet
unconfirmed, but it’s an undeniable fact that emotions run high on this and all
songs on the album: a raw, powerful journey through blues, country, Americana
and folk.
What follows is an exceptional record; at
times subtle and tender, at others foot-stompingly upbeat, it is quite simply a
joy to listen to. I Had Me A Girl and
Oh Henry replicate the barnstorming
fun of their debut’s Barton Hollow,
while From This Valley and French-speaking
ballad Sacred Heart showcase the
band’s delicate side. As always, Williams and White’s harmonies hit that
magical sweet spot, perfectly pitched in every way. The instrumentation, too,
is glorious with beautifully picked guitars and lap-steels, luxurious strings
and the odd moment of bluesy electric guitar.
The Civil Wars may well have gone through hell
and high water to record their second album. Despite their differences,
however, they have crafted an album of resonant beauty; a body of work laced
with the emotion of two talented, impassioned musicians. From a listener’s
point of view, the struggle was more than worth it.
The Civil Wars by The Civil Wars is out now via
Sensibility Recordings.
ES
No comments:
Post a Comment