Lily & Madeleine #6 - Rabbit

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The release date of Lily & Madeleine's second album Fumes draws ever nearer (October 27th via Asthmatic Kitty Records) and to stir up yet more anticipation the sibling duo have shared new track "Rabbit" from the record, it follows "The Wolf Is Free" and similarly exudes a rich, expansive melody, here more boundless and bright than we've seen before.

The restrained intimacy which made up much of the Lily & Madeleine album (still only one year old) has been traded in for stirring, layered instrumentation with strong string work propelling "Rabbit" forward amongst the sister's ever-pretty entwined vocals, they remain crystal clear and beautiful leaving you wrapped in a warming glow and joy. That will do for me...

Lily & Madeleine #5 - The Wolf Is Free

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More siblings today, Lily & Madeleine return with "The Wolf is Free", the first track taken from their second album Fumes, which was announced yesterday and is due October 27th via Asthmatic Kitty Records.

It sees the pair quickly following last years self-titled debut, a record of simple, restrained instrumentation and beautiful, enchanting voices with a track that immediately expands their palette.

"The Wolf is Free" still, of course, owes much of its charm to the sisters' gorgeous voices, their entwining harmonies haunt long after the track is finished but here there is an added richness and conviction on display, with a luscious, hypnotising guitar and enveloping piano melody hinting that the new record might be a slightly darker shade this time. I'm looking forward to finding out for myself later in the year.

Lily & Madeleine #4 - I've Got Freedom

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One of my New Year's Resolutions as far as the blog was concerned was to keep posting about bands after the initial joy of a new single / album announcement has been made (I'm probably failing). It's pretty easy to get filled with hysteria when an act releases a debut track that blows your mind or about the first single from a favourite band returning after three years away but I often neglect to cover that act again until their next album (apart from year-end lists or festival reviews).

Generally the reasons are simple and one I adhered to on my twitter today - time. This is a one-man blog of passion and love around a family and full-time job and an obsessive compulsion to see as many gigs as I can possibly go to. Something has to give.

Anyway, that long-winding paragraph brings me onto one such act, Lily & Madeleine whom I'm covered here a couple of times around the release of last October's debut full length and forgot all about since... Their latest single "I've Got Freedom" gives me chance to amend that (I was probably meant to post this a couple of weeks ago to coincide with a UK tour but Prince kinda got in the way of my life!)...

Much like with earlier singles "Devil You Know" and "Come To Me" there's nothing not to like about the track, as beautiful and enchanting as a track about post relationship liberation can be with the sister's arresting voices and simple, restrained instrumentation creating a melody to fully lose yourself in. Pure, relaxing bliss, what more could ask for on a Tuesday evening.

Lily & Madeleine is out now on Asthmatic Kitty Records

Lily & Madeleine #3 - Come To Me

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In recent years a wave of family bands have come along to prove no one can quite harmonise as perfectly as kin. First Aid Kit, The Staves and now Lily & Madeleine, all sisters' blessed with pure vocals and combine them to timeless effect.

The Indianapolis duo's debut self-titled album came out at the end of last month and following from the gorgeously enchanting "Devil You Know" is the single release of "Come To Me", a track which similarly oozes in restrained beauty, heart-felt lyrics and those crystal clear voices. Simple, hauntingly good melodies and pleasurable arrangements which as one of the album's other tracks says, take you to paradise...

The album is available now via Asthmatic Kitty. A show at the lovely St Pancras Old Church has also been announced for February 13th - details.

Lily & Madeleine #2 - Devil We Know

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I've been meaning to follow up my Introducing post on Lily & Madeleine (sisters Jurkiewicz from Indianapolis) for a while now, their debut EP The Weight of the Globe introduced a timeless sound of heart-melting perfection as effortlessly soft vocals and beautifully restrained melodies tugged at your soul. The news of their self-titled debut album and its lead track "Devil We Know" gives me the perfect opportunity...

Easily their boldest, fullest track to date, the stark, wistful sounds of the EP have grown in a similar fashion to that of the most recent First Aid Kit release, their crystalline vocal harmonies remain as pure and clear as ever and the lyrics honest and worldy reflections but they now blossom amongst country-tinged instrumentation that swells and beguiles, the added layer of complexity to previously simplistic arrangements works perfectly and nothing is lost from the overall sound. just added, "Devil We Know" transcends beauty and leaves you tingling all over - I can't wait to hear more.

Lily & Madeleine is due October 29th and is available to pre-order via Asthmatic Kitty now.

Lily & Madeleine - New Music "Introducing"

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Lily & Madeleine is the name given to the songs of sisters Lily and Madeleine Jurkiewicz from Indianapolis, their sound though doesn't sound like that of City dwellers, the duo's clear harmonies and simple, stripped arrangements hark to simpler times and earthlier landscapes.

The beautiful "Back To The River" (taken from their debut EP The Weight of the Globe - available on CD/ 10" Vinyl via Asthmatic Kitty on June 11th or digitally via Bandcamp now) the perfect example, striking a chord with soft, stark instrumentation and the sisters' crystalline vocals. "In The Middle" similarly appeals to the hopeless romantic in me, wistful, effortless and gorgeous. Simply gorgeous.