NATHAN GOURLEY and LAURA FEDDERSEN

Nathan Gourley and Laura Feddersen are originally from the American Midwest and met in 2008 in Boston where they have since settled. And like many Americans of Irish descent, they were introduced to the music of the green Erin at an early age.

Nathan, a former member of Chulrua and Two Tap Trio, has collected hundreds of tunes over the years, while Laura teaches and performs all over the place. Both are well known in the field of traditional Irish music and have developed a unique style of fiddle playing, sometimes playing in unison, sometimes exploring chordal harmonies and rhythmic and melodic variations. As if that wasn't enough, Nathan adds intricate chords and a steady beat to the guitar.

On this second album, Brightly and Darkly, recorded at their home in Roxbury, Massachusetts, they offer us nearly forty tunes in 16 tracks. On this one, the duo mixes sounds in an exquisite way, with small touches, carefully studied tempos, and delicate changes between tracks in the same set. They explore a whole range of different chords for their two fiddles. Thanks to this, their music sounds light or dark, as suggested by the title of the album.

Throughout the tracks one recognises tunes such as The Maids of Michelstown popularised many years ago by the Bothy Band or From Galway to Dublin, a tune first recorded in 1929. Each fiddler presents his solo playing, on Matt People's for Nathan and The Haymaker for Laura. This is a superb collection of tunes, the choice and tempos of which are very tasteful. A delicate and sensitive album.

Autoproduit - www.nathanandlauramusic.com