Up–and–coming anti–folk band Matrimony blends touches of Americana with Irish folk in their recent EP, The Storm & The Eye. The band began as a duo starring Ashley Hardee Brown and Jimmy Brown, from Charlotte, North Carolina and Belfast, Ireland respectively. Now joined by three others, the group creates a wintery sound with almost orchestral execution.
The EP showcases the band’s energy and virtuosity. The album is characterized by slow and steady melodies, with both Browns providing resounding vocals. At times, the band sounds like a (darker) church choir. The piano and biblical imagery in “Who is Your God” rings clear through the six–minute serenade. But the EP isn’t all seriousness. The jangly song “Flee or Flight” features Jimmy Brown singing with enough passion to carry the entire album. As proven in other tracks, his voice has a quality that puts it somewhere between the sweet sounds of Fleet Foxes and the roaring bouts of Flogging Molly.
With their first steps into the indie rock world, Matrimony demonstrates they can be solemn or lively within one cohesive album. But at times, the band falls flat. The group fails to deliver a unique sound that sets them apart from other folky and alternative country bands. Despite an enjoyable honeymoon phase, Matrimony could benefit from some time to grow into their own.
3/5 stars
Matrimony The Storm & The Eye Sounds Like: Folk music with a dreary touch 99-Cent Download: “The storm & the Eye” Good For: Fans of banjos, female vocalists
