Insight & Critique
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact

Corner House - Smart Folks

9/16/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Corner House

Smart Folks
self-released; 2019


4.0 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

Louise Bichan (fiddle/vocals), Ethan Hawkins (guitar/vocals), Casey Murray (cello/clawhammer banjo/vocals) and Ethan Setiawan (mandolin/mandola/vocals) are Corner House. I really like their name. It was my first thought and I don’t know why. As I started listening to their music from their EP  I was thinking I really like their music but know some of the reasons why.

The band mixes organic instrumentation and traditionally influenced music. You can hear elements of bluegrass, Appalachian stringband, Irish influenced music and more. It’s warm, beautiful and earthly and feels like it comes straight from the soul.

They start with “Slip Jigs” which is an energy infused instrumental song. On this song they certain flex their technical and creative muscles. They also manage to do this while creating some vibrant music that is joyful, celebratory and even has a hint of melancholy if you listen with the right ears. I really liked this song but it was the highlight “Happy Now” which brought my appreciation for the band to a different level.

“Happy Now” starts fairly stripped back with a distinct kind of singer/songwriter vibe. The  melancholy is warm but a slight rise with additional strings and a slight change in the vocal melody provides the solace. There is just an undeniable human element that feels real and relatable. They delicately dance upon patterns of energy that we tend to call emotion and you see there isn’t as much division as you thought.

Up next is “Smart Folks” which displays disciplined playing and technical acumen. The timing and ability to play off each other so well was impressive. “You're Great” starts off beautifully somber and also contains some fantastic vocal harmonies. They displayed on “Happy Now” how seamlessly they can transition (from emotions like joy and sadness) and they do that again on “You’re Great.”

They close with “Through the Snow Covered Pines” which is a bit of a slow burn. It starts with banjo and builds with more instrumentation. The addition of the other instruments is quite beautiful as the band blends Celtic music as well as bluegrass and eventually erupts into the most joyous swing on the EP.

​I was looking at the picture of the band on their website. They are a very young band in terms of their age and I love the fact that a younger generation are keeping music like this alive and doing it so well. This is a great EP and I hope this is just the beginning for them. Take a listen.
official website
Tweet
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

       Critique/insight

    We are dedicated to informing the public about the different types of independent  music that is available for your listening pleasure as well as giving the artist a professional critique from a seasoned music geek. We critique a wide variety of niche genres like experimental, IDM, electronic, ambient, shoegaze and much more.

    Tweets by divideanconqer
    Are you one of our faithful visitors who enjoys our website? Like us on Facebook


    Archives

    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012

Company

About
Contributors

Newsletter

Newsletter
Book Your Band
© Divide and Conquer 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • DAC
  • Indie Music Album Reviews
  • About
  • Submissions
  • Top albums
  • Features
  • Contact