Sometimes, the best records are the biggest accidents. Bradford Loomis and Beth Whitney began writing together with no expectations in mind, but two hours into their first writing session they had their first song ‘My Beloved’, a gentle but haunting, largely acoustic (but gradually building) love song that could easily have been plucked straight from a Civil Wars album, or even Robert Plant’s work with Alison Krauss. Such is the comparison it seems almost fate that Bradford and Beth would come around just as Joy and John Paul officially went their separate ways, if it weren’t for the development of their collaboration elsewhere on the EP. Following the penning of that track the pair scheduled more writing sessions, and it quickly became clear that they had something too special going on not to do something with. The result is ‘The Banner Days’, a seven-track collection that weaves Americana/roots with alt-pop sensibilities, a truly infectious combination peppered with powerful lyrics and their incredibly beautiful vocals.
Joining ‘My Beloved’ in the comparisons drawn to The Civil Wars is the spooky folk tale ‘My Brother’, as death, heartache and darkness intertwine to make for a truly sinister piece. Shivers creep up the spine and tickle the neck as the song ebbs away as quickly as it has peaked, making way for the ‘Wanted Man’, that begins using an equally uneasy sound. Yet, this is where the duo carve out their own niche, as Bradford’s vocals growl across the speakers almost primitively, taking over from Beth’s majority share on lead and instantly injecting a strong, aggressive, pace-driven rock styling to the song. They play with rhythm quite intriguingly, never letting the track settle into any one pigeonhole and constantly introducing new musical motifs and sections that deviate from the overall theme. To give it some grounding, of course, the chorus does return, but again almost as soon as we have become accustomed to it it’s gone.
Drifting from the brooding, the angry and the haunting, Bradford and Beth also interpret sweet acoustic love songs in a way that is truly their own. ‘Come Dance With Me’ is charming, chemistry-ridden and rather lovely, using instruments such as the mandolin to make the track twinkle behind their gentle yet passionate vocals. But it’s the cheery beat and vibe of the title track that really sets the precedent for what they’re capable of, placing banjo and ethereal pedal steel against summery pop melodies and phrasing, harmonizing over a loving lyric. ‘Song In My Head’, too, carries that alt-pop style, drawing comparisons to acts like Sara Bareilles and Colbie Caillat who infuse folk and soul into their catchy, radio-friendly work. Bradford and Beth are further on the fringes than those acts, meaning don’t expect to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 any time soon, but do expect these songs to pick up a loyal live following. ‘From Dust To Dust’ has an infectious folk/rock structure with a truly sing-able chorus that places them on a bigger stage than any of the other tracks do, but it’s their variety that make them so likeable. No matter what people’s musical preferences, Bradford and Beth are bound to touch on them in some way across just seven brilliantly written, brilliantly performed, brilliantly produced songs.
Something tells me these two were right when they decided to record the results of their fruitful writing sessions. Something also tells me this is just the beginning, and I’m excited to see where it takes them next.
