fakejazz.com

English duo Tunng, comprised of singer Sam Genders and instrumentalist Mike Lindsay, offer a collection of atmospheric folk songs that could easily be considered a tribute to Nick Drake. Yet, the unique sound of Tunng stems from Lindsay's brilliant use of electronic tinkering to jolt life into otherwise-tranquil music. Much like a chef seasoning with salt, the key to adding electronic effects to music such as folk is that it should not have a terribly strong presence. Lindsay does an excellent job in this respect, as his nuanced production is almost exclusively used to accent the end of a vocal phrase. However, he does run into trouble a few times, such as in the messy percussive introduction of the title track. While the quieter, intimate tracks like "Song of the Sea," "Fair Doreen," and "Code Breaker" are certainly Drakesque, there are just as many surprises found on the album. The creepy mood of "Pool Beneath the Pond" benefits from a vocal effect reminiscent of cicadas. The catchy "People Folk" jumps in and out of basic time signatures, proving that time changes don't have to be jarring. The instrumental "Kinky Vans" placed in the middle of the album is possibly the most ambitious track, featuring a wide array of instruments and sonic textures. Aside from the lazy title, there's an obvious abundance of effort on Mother's Daughter & Other Songs that is legitimately unique.

Tunng at Amazon & Insound