PopSyndicate.com

Each week I get a stack of CDs in and 60% are forgettable, 35% are good, and if you’re lucky, that last 5% will turn up something that’s really noteworthy.  This week’s standout has to be the combination of Chris and Thomas.  The duo’s simple harmonizing is a refreshing breath after so many rap star wannabes and alt. metal retreads.  Land of Sea is a great folk album that will have you relaxing in the cool autumn nights.

Chris and Thomas’ debut CD has a soulful playfulness reminiscent of Paul Simon or Peter, Paul and Mary.  Their silky voices layout a folksy Americana sound that blends a sad beauty with a slightly melancholy simplicity.  It’s the kind of album that coffeehouses everywhere will play ad nausea but don’t let that turn you off.  Chris and Thomas don’t veer off into the pretentiousness of patchouli scents and hemp bracelets, but are the new voice of folk music.  This acoustic album blends cellos with steel guitars and upright bass with mandolins and banjos.  Everything about Land of Sea feels like two talented musicians sat down to create one organic session.  The two never break into solos.  Each voice plays off the other allowing one voice to shine over the other at times.

The themes of the songs won’t surprise anyone.  Tracks about nature, love and live in general fill the disc.  The title track “Land of Sea” establishes the acoustic feel of the album.  If you don’t enjoy this song, you’re not going to enjoy the rest of the CD.  The light plucking of the mandolin combined with the subtle beat will have you leaning back and tapping your toes.  “Broken Chair” is my personal favorite on the album.  “Maybe it’s time to let it go, maybe it’s time for taking it slow, maybe it’s time for anything at all, time to let it unfold where it may”.  This seems to be the theme of the album.  Get rid of the fast paced world we live in and look at what’s going on.

The rest of the album hums along in a light trippy manner.  None of the songs pop out but each track is effectively balanced and keeps bouncing along.  Chris and Thomas keep their identities hidden so it’s hard to say who does what on the album.  As one song effortlessly flows into the next you find the downside of Land of Sea, all the songs sound roughly the same.  The pacing and diversity of the music never really changes.  It’s hard to find fault with any of the songs but by the time the albums over, you’ll also have a hard time remembering any song that you want to go back and hear again.

Land of Sea is one of the more accomplished releases I’ve heard this year.  Chris and Thomas are great musicians and this release is excellent proof of their abilities.  Their low-key manner means you’ll have to search them out, and if you do, you’ll be rewarded with a great album full of some of the best folk music released this year.

4