Thunderbolt & Lightfoot -​ Songs for Mixed Company

Thunderbolt & Lightfoot

​Songs for Mixed Company
self-released; 2017

4.1 out of 5 - TOP ALBUM

By Matt Jensen

Thunderbolt & Lightfoot are Sarah Fuerst and Phil Barry. The duo are long time musicians who have a good amount of experience playing in numerous musical outfits. Songs For Mixed Company is their second effort. The music is quite beautiful and minimal. At the center are the vocal harmonies which is at least accompanied by an acoustic guitar. There are other elements on certain songs which give just enough variety.  

The production is truly exceptional. Everything is crystal clear and there is so much space in the mix. They open up with “Let’s Be Friends” which keeps it very sparse. Guitar and vocals. That's really all you need when a song is this well written, performed and recorded.

​“Miss Me” adds additional guitar, organs and drums. The song is another success from head to toe. I thought the  melodies were memorable and it has such a warm, comforting feel to it. 

“Can’t Be Trusted” has some dark tones that felt reflective and serious while “Goodbye is not the End” felt like I was walking down a boardwalk on a sunny day without a care in the world. As the album continues the duo crushes it with exceptional songwriting.

They do a great job mixing up the palette of sounds but it's nothing too drastic. It's an important pro move a lot of artists don’t practice. The tones and shades of each song feel similar and connected but vary enough with each song to keep things interesting. 

My favorite song may have been the closer “Dearly Beloved” which felt like a traditional song from the Appalachian mountains. Fuerst's vocals are a little more upfront on this track and it works out great. There is a soulful, human quality to the music that is undeniable. 

I really don't have any complaints with this album. The album never drags, the melodies are easy to appreciate and the overall attention to detail and quality is top notch. Highly recommended.

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