"MEXICO"-STAVES
Whether you know it or not, popular music is in the midst of a folk-rock revolution we haven't seen since the days when Joni Mitchell lived in a fine Laurel Canyon house with a couple of cats in her yard.
Today it's acts such as Mumford & Sons, Civil Wars, Bon Iver, Lumineers, Iron & Wine, Decemberists and others who are successfully selling songs and picking up significant radio airplay. One of the latest to join this genre is the Staves, three synchronized singing sisters (Emily, Jessica and Camilla) who hail from the London suburb of Watford.
The Staveley-Taylor siblings are kind of like if the Fleet Foxes had daughters who grew up in England. Think delicate Judy Collins vocals with tight Crosby, Stills & Nash harmonies.
The Staves have recently released a beautiful recording called "Mexico" that could quite possibly become their break-through hit single here in the States. The best way I know how to describe the feel of "Mexico" is with a barrage of adjectives, like; haunting, innocent, emotive, effortless, etherial, simple, melancholy, sober, thoughtful, pensive, rich, honest, delicate, subtle… poignant.
"Mexico" begins with middle sis Jessica on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, then Emily and Milly join in adding depth and dimension to this beautiful ballad with their three-part pitch-perfect harmonies, all leading up to a stunningly soaring chorus.
The girls say they grew up singing along to artists like Feist, Simon & Garfunkel and Buffalo Springfield. “There was always music in the house and we always sang,” Jessica recalls. “Mum and Dad weren't professional musicians or anything but they were always into music and would sing, and play both the guitar and piano. Lots of harmonies.”
"Mexico" is part of Dead & Born & Grown which was produced by the ultra-legendary Glyn Johns (Eagles, Eric Clapton, the Who) and his son Ethan (Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Priscilla Ahn).
So, should you set "Mexico" as the next destination on your iPod? Folk, yeah
