Gentle acoustic guitars and deep vocal melodies run concurrent throughout this six track adventure in folk/bohemia. This Manchester-based duo typify the high standards set by the tidal wave of open-mic discoveries and the never-ending stream of new acts that are finding not just a platform, but an audience as the city’s acoustic revival continues to blossom.
These seemingly lengthy offerings allow the art of trance to play its part as a series of torch-songs and bittersweet ballads unfold.
The two-part harmonies are strong as Dunkley & Sue get to grips with the subject-matter; that girl has a raw singing talent that fair shines even in the places where the melodies momentarily fade.
‘Crashing Down’ is a highlight. Lyrically down-to-earth, with a country/folk appeal that comes with the fiddle, there is true suspense and much holding of the breath amidst the drama that amimates the song in spades. Likewise ‘She Needs To Know’ stands out; more considered but all the more endearing for its acoustic simplicity – some might even say fragile.
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The six-strong showcase comes to a climax with the oddly melancholic, cello-rich and oddly atonal ‘Different To Me Now’. This one lives and breathes for the heartstrings without compromise, the stuff of which bittersweet memories are made. It all points towards a strong live act; theirs is a stage show with a strong and ever-growing reputation.
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