Madison Violet

In some places this is called ‘Americana’ and in others ‘Folk’:no matter because whatever the name is it is pure gold.
One of those albums that completely transcends its genre and simply delivers on every level.

The songs are unremittingly low-key and downbeat but they sing and play so well that you are never in danger of being depressed by the music or offended by gratuitous sadness.
Brenley MacEarchrn & Lisa MacIsaac are Madison Violet and their harmonies seem to cut to the meat of even the hardest-hearted of reviewers (me!) without ever sounding corny or hackneyed as they sing about lost loves and money-troubles and goodbyes.
The musicians that accompany them are quite superb as well, adding to the harmonies and worth listening to in their own right but never taking away from the focal point of the song – the combinations of banjo, mandolin, fiddle, pedal steel guitar and piano, always gently played and subtle, makes the music even more intense and listenable.

‘Ransom’ opens the album with a gentle pedal-steel as the girls sing about burn-out and the traumas of touring and sets the tone for a quiet and contemplative set of songs.
Every song has its own character but there is a general feeling of melancholy and wistfulness. The title track and ‘hallways of the sage’ are the songs that really capture the harmonies of the vocalists the best but ‘The Woodshop’ with a squeezebox and plucked fiddle in the background really tears at your heartstrings. The harmonica on ‘Darlin’ is pure Neil Young – no bad thing – but they really don’t sound like anyone else.

You have to listen closely to the songs to get the full measure of the talent on offer and the lyrics sometimes need to be read to be fully understood but if you persevere the rewards are there and you can get to grips with one of the best Roots albums of the years so far.