by The Paper Kites
States is a beautiful, warm, lush, dreamy and melancholic album from Melbourne band The Paper Kites.
The indie folk band formed in 2009 and consists of Sam Bentley, Christina Lacy, Dave Powys, Sam Rasmussen and Josh Bentley. Since their formation in 2009, they have recorded two EP's (Woodland in 2011 and Young North in 2012) and have toured nationally in 2012 plus supported Josh Pyke (2011), Boy & Bear (2011) and Bombay Bicycle Club (2013) on their tours.
The album was recorded at Sing Sing Studios (Melbourne) and Alberts Studio (Sydney). Production duties were shared between the band and Wayne Connolly (You Am I, Josh Pyke, Silverchair, Sarah Blasko) who collaborated with the band on their Young North EP. A trailer of their album recording sessions is available at http://tinyurl.com/lfg4jqj
The first single ‘St Clarity’ is a finger picking delight with Powys on Banjo, dreamy vocals by Powys, Sam Bently and Lacy plus the gentle, moving percussion and drums by Josh Bently. The supporting video (http://tinyurl.com/kbeopk6) was directed by Natasha Pincus (award winning director of Gotye's ‘Somebody I Used To Know’ video) and features the talent of French professional bubbler Sylvain Letuvée. The second single ‘Young’ (http://tinyurl.com/mrg4b8w) projects youthfulness, dream-renewal and optimism through the stunning vocal, guitar and percussion work.
Sam Bently predominately wrote the tracks on the album with writing contributions from Lacy and Powys on two tracks. Throughout the album, there are echoes of Zero 7 (’Living Colour’), Simon & Garfunkel and She & Him (‘Malleable Beings’, ‘Never Heard a Sound’, ‘Tin Lover’, ‘I Done You So Wrong’ - teaming angelic harmonies from Sam Bently and Christina Lacy), The Verve (‘A Lesson from Mr Gray’) and The Cranberries (‘In Reverie’). All tracks are a real treat especially those featuring the fragile but beautiful harmonies from Lacy and Sam Bently together with Josh Bently's percussion and drum work. Rasmussen's bass and Sam Bently's acoustic guitar work are faultless.
The Paper Kites are currently on a national tour to promote the album which includes two Melbourne shows on September 15th and 28th. They then tour the USA for the first time supporting City and Colour on their national US tour and promoting the album's release in North America.
This album is a fitting soundtrack as we transition from Winter to Spring. A rewarding listen.
States is released locally on August 30th through Wonderlick Recording Company/Sony Music Entertainment Australia.
Sasha Brookes – PBS Music Library
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