Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker

Seedlings All

They say write what you know. Here the wide-ranging, Rough Trade-signed folk duo return with their first album of entirely original material and, following the aforementioned adage, record a relatable rumination on the personal life of a songwriter and performer. Opener Chicago’s ode to failure (‘It’s not Chicago’s fault that no one came to see me play’) will ring true for any performer and proves the highlight. Elsewhere, it feels flatter, sparser and seemingly more piano-led than previous albums (a shame, given Walker’s acoustic talents), but nonetheless rewards patience with intimacy.

Matt Parker

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