Winsome duo back in spotlight
Winsome Kind’s Scott and Leora Joy Perrie arrived in Vancouver a few years back and dropped a self-titled debut album that picked up plenty of love from media and fans alike. The group’s easygoing sound is right in line with the smooth folk/pop revival taking place across Canada at the moment, particularly in B.C. and Ontario. The release of the group’s second album, Call It Home, cements its reputation as one to watch. Here are five things to know about the recording.
1 THE BENEFITS OF STUDIO NAPS
The musicians are new parents and were parents-in-waiting during the recording. Leora was seven months’ pregnant during the sessions and had to develop a routine of post-singing nap times on the studio floor to get through the recording process. This didn’t produce a strained sounding record. Instead, she sounds absolutely refreshed on songs such as Kaleidoscope.
2 POSITIVE OUTLOOK
For young musicians, the two write material that can get melancholy. When You Were a Kid looks back to “all the joy you felt/from all the laughing you did/when you were a kid” like it’s gone for good. But the spirit that really imbues the writing is how the power of love can revitalize a person. Songs such as Above the Clouds wouldn’t sound out of place at a wedding.
3 HARMONIES MATTER
Not only does the music reference California soft rock a lot, it really embraces harmony vocals everywhere. The two can trade off lyrics, sympathetically caress one another’s voices or just join up like a chorus and it really works. There is definitely some country in there as songs such as Nobody But You could be twanged up in a moment.
4 FEELIN’ LOW (SHAKE IT OFF)
The only non-strummy boogie track on the entire album is a bit of a swing tune that even boasts a tasty guitar solo. Leora clearly could likely stand on her own as a blues belter in a different band. But the one thing Call It Home has going for it is a cohesive vision. Credit producer Tom Dobrzanski (Said the Whale) for the pristine sound quality throughout the record.
5 ROGUE FOLK CLUB CONNECTION
The group released its debut at a Rogue Folk Club show and it’s going to do it again with a CD release on Sept. 8, St. James Hall. Tickets are $20 and more information is available at roguefolk.bc.ca