Blood Speaks [Bonus Disc]

by Smoke Fairies

Overview

Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies' third outing under the Smoke Fairies banner finds the bewitching English duo wrapping their velvety voices and nimble guitar picking around another moody set of misty electric folk and turbulent Victorian blues. Like 2010's stellar Through Low Light and Trees, Blood Speaks feels both out of time and oddly contemporary, utilizing vintage gear and a storm of reverb to project a Pentangle/"Rhiannon"-era Fleetwood Mac vibe, while maintaining an undercurrent of bluesy, slide-driven Americana. The latter can be felt most prominently on tracks like "The Three of Us," "Take Me Down When You Go," and "Version of the Future," all of which sport an earthy patina of Southern gothic ambience, while more stately cuts like "Let Me Know," "Awake," and "Feel It Coming Near," the latter of which feels like a lost sibling to Low Light highlight "Devil in My Mind," feel like they were drawn from a more regional well. Blamire and Davies sound more confident this time around, allowing their throaty wails a wider berth, and their snaky melodies a little more room to sneak, and while Blood Speaks may lack the immediate hooks of its predecessor, it's got longer legs, deeper corners, and attitude to spare. [A 2013 version added a second disc with five bonus tracks.] ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	04/09/2013
Label:	Year Seven Records
UPC:	0795984170350
Rank:	146691

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Let Me Know
2. Awake
3. The Three of Us
4. Daylight
5. Blood Speaks
6. Take Me Down When You Go
7. Feel It Coming Near
8. Hideaway
9. Version of the Future
10. Film Reel

Disc 2

11. Radio Clicks On
12. Bells
13. The Wireless
14. Somebody Speaks
15. Film Reel

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Smoke Fairies   Primary Artist
Robert Wilks   Drums,Timpani,Percussion
Jessica Davies   Guitar,Vocals,Percussion
Katherine Blamire   Bass,Banjo,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Mellotron,Omnichord,Percussion
Neil Walsh   Bass,Banjo,Viola,Omnichord
Kristofer Harris   Bass

Technical Credits

Matt Harvey   Management
Head   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
George Murphy   Assistant
Smoke Fairies   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Maria Mochnacz   Photography
Jessica Davies   Group Member
Katherine Blamire   Group Member
Kristofer Harris   Mixing,Engineer,Remixing,Drum Programming,Additional Production
Jo Simpson   Stylist
John Dent   Mastering
Doug Hart   Management