This EP is as simple as it is beautiful.  It has been released on limited edition 10″ vinyl by Family, an imprint of Names Records which they are keeping for limited runs of special stuff – like this.

The EP itself is unbelievably spare – guitar and two voices and the songs themselves are two of Alela’s own and three traditional folk songs.

It’s difficult to analyse something like this at all, honestly.  It’s exactly what the above description will lead you to expect and you will either like it or not.

Personally, I think Alela Diane has one of the loveliest voices I’ve heard in bloody ages, and from the sounds of this Alina Hardin isn’t far behind.  Add to that the fact that Alela has a rolling guitar plucking style which I think is warm and beautiful and you can pretty much guess that I love this, can’t you.  It’s possible that you might find it a little bland, because it’s all so bare-bones, which gives all the songs a very similar personality, but  that will only be an issue if you are less than captivated by the few elements which make up these arrangements, and the lovely open space given to them.  For me personally, this is not a problem, it is one of the nicest aspects of this particular recording.

Incidentally, they also play a version of Matty Groves, a song I know from the brilliant version on Fairport Convention’s classic Liege & Lief and one which have heard rather a lot of versions of recently.  I think I’ll make that the focus of a post in the next day or so, because it’s a great song to which I’d like to devote a little more time, but not here.

This really is gorgeous.

Alela Diane & Alina Hardin – Bowling Green

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