Through Low Light and Trees

Friends since school days in Chichester, England, Jessica Davies and Katherine Blamire came over to North America, where they hung their hats in New Orleans, Vancouver, and Nashville. In the last of those cities they recorded a single for Jack White’s Third Man label before eventually heading back to England to become deserved folk darlings in a scene known for its talent (Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons). This female duo, however, needn't be compared to their contemporaries. While their songs draw comparison to ‘60s English folk musicians (including Sandy Denny, of course), there’s nothing deliberately retro about them. The modern blues of “Strange Moon Rising” is an evocative piece of a late-night haunt that’s shared in other ways with the twisted folk of “Erie Lackawanna,” the acoustic-to-electric “Summer Fades,” the mystic folk “Devil in My Mind,” and the surprisingly catchy pop “Hotel Room.” There's not a weak track here, and the final batch of songs—“Storm Song,” “Blue Skies”—bring more rain but also light, which peaks out from the clouds in an inspiring way. The deluxe version includes seven bonus tracks, including the video for “Hotel Room” and alternate takes of three album tracks.