The first thing you’ll notice about Eyreton Hall is frontwoman Toni Randle’s angelic voice. The duo from New Zealand commence their debut album with a track entitled ‘Bellbird’, which begins with a simple acoustic riff and Randle’s sweet vocals, and then intensifies with a Fleet Foxes-esque full band crescendo.
The title track ‘Featherstitch’opens in a similar vein, this time with Randle’s vocals against a simple piano, and undulates beautifully when the band kicks in, with harmonies and a violin making a welcome appearance. Lyrics throughout this record are deep and heartfelt, showcasing the band’s maturity when it comes to songwriting. ‘The Marriage’ is rather heartbreaking, bittersweet and reflective, featuring lyrics like, “And sometimes you hold my hand when my doubt is crushing explicit,” and bursts of clarinet in the background. The standout track, however, is ‘Salt And Sixpence’; soulful, honest and soothing. The album closes with ‘And So It Goes’ (there’s that clarinet again) – a gorgeous and dramatically simple love ballad without the sap.
While Eyreton Hall don’t really offer anything new in the genre of folk-pop, you can forgive them easily, as this debut shows great promise. It’s beautifully recorded, richly layered and overall a very enjoyable listen.
3.5/5.
Featherstitchis out now through Independent/Bandcamp.
