Smoke Fairies
Country of origin:
England
Type of music generally:
Beautiful & fierce contemporary folk with a strong Americana/country blues influence
Status:
Most recent release, Blood Speaks (2012)
See also:
Smoke Fairies's site
Comparisons:
If Loreena McKennitt and 16 Horsepower had children that formed a country/blues folk duo heavily influenced by Mazzy Star
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Smoke Fairies are Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies, a blues/folk/country/Americana duo that have been singing together since high school, and their gorgeous harmonies feel as instinctive as that. Both singers have lovely, powerful, expressive voices, perfect for their heavily melancholic sound. Since the instant I first heard "Living with Ghosts," a song off their first single, I have been obsessed with this band, listening to them frequently and avidly collecting their releases. (Neile)
Comments about live performance:
I heard them on their U.S. tour when they were opening for Rasputina, and they were brilliant. It gave me chills to hear those voices live. The renditions of their songs were very like the recorded versions but well worth hearing. They were subdued and not very talkative on-stage, so the music was the focus, as well it should be. They are so impressive. (08/11, Neile)
Recommended first album:
Their vinyl/download-only EP compilation Ghosts would be the best starting place, though Through Low Light and Trees is their first widely available & full-length CD release
Recordings:
- Living With Ghosts (limited-edition vinyl & CD single, 2008)
- Frozen Heart (vinyl & CD single, 2009)
- Sunshine (vinyl & CD single, 2009)
- Gastown (7" vinyl single, 2009)
- Ghosts (ep compilation, vinyl & digital only, 2010)
- Through Low Light and Trees (2010)
- Blood Speaks (2012)
Ghosts
Release info:
2010—453 Music (U.S. only; vinyl & digital only)—453-001
Availability:
U.S. or or from the Smoke Fairies's site
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Katherine Blamire—vocals, guitar
Jessica Davies—vocals, guitar
Comments:
This compiles Smoke Fairies's ep and single releases to date (with the exception of the Third Man Records 7" single, "Gastown"): the 2-track "Living With Ghosts" single (Music for Hereoes HEROES801), the 5-track "Frozen Heart" EP (HEROES901) and the 2-track "Sunshine" single (HEROES901).It's hard to over-emphasize how wonderful these songs are. I'm not sure they entirely hold together as an album since my experience of them was on the eps and singles as they appeared, but these songs are brilliant. They made Smoke Fairies immediately one of the very short list of favourite musicians I've discovered in recent years. (Neile)
Through Low Light and Trees (2010/2011)
Release info:
2010—V2/Cooperative Music—SF001CDX (U.K.); (2011—Year Seven Records— YR7001CDx (U.S.)
Availability:
U.K. and U.S.
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Katherine Blamire—guitar, vocals, percussion, piano, Hammond organ, Fender Rhodes
Jessica Davies—guitar, vocals,, concertina, Hammond organ
Guest artists:
Noel Walsh—viola (1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9)
Kristofer Harris—bass (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9)
Martin Dean—drums (1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9)
Jenny Blamire—recorder (4)
Produced by:
Head
Comments:
Gorgeous harmonies, and again a type of music (country/Americana) that I don't normally care for but I love this. Their vocals and songwriting are irresistible. This is their first official full-length album and it's wonderful, moody, affecting. Give it a chance and it will grow grow GROW on you.
Both the U.K. and the U.S. come with a limited edition with a second CD of slightly different bonus tracks. I love this band so much that I have purchased both. (Neile)
Further info:
Smoke Fairies contribute a cover of "Alabama" to Harvest revisited: Neil Young's classic album re-recorded exclusively for Mojo [the U.K. music magazine].There is a live iTunes Festival EP (2011)
