Angus & Julia Stone – A Book Like This

This debut release from Aussie siblings Angus and Julia Stone barely rises above strummed acoustic guitars and stripped down drums, but after a few listens it's clutch of gentle melodies have nestled their way inside my head as a summery delight come a few months early. Let's hope the actual weather follows suit soon.They were raised just north of Sydney in a musical family, and started making music in that environment more as a personal hobby than a way of earning a living. A couple of years ago they naturally gravitated to performing together, and not long after that relocated to the UK. A couple of EPs later and they've now got a full length release to their name. They have been semi-adopted by none other than Fran Healy from Travis, who co-produces here and gave his home studio over to them for half the album - the rest being recorded in their mum's lounge. Makes a change from the bedroom doesn't it?The start is charming - effortlessly delightful for a run of four or five tracks. Lead vocals switch with lead songwriter. His are sweetly drier with an occasional falsetto. She is verging on croaky (but not in a bad way) with a tendency to speak the verses. Together they harmonise naturally as you would expect from brother and sister, and combine to give a whole that is somehow smoother than the sum of the parts. She is more preoccupied with relationships and finding a young woman's way in the world. He has a more 'outside looking in' view of the world and ranges wider in subject matter.First track from Angus, 'The Beast', has a warm breezy West Coast sound and the chorus is pure Fleetwood Mac (strange how that band is now referenced so often) - no doubt due in part to their Dad's past membership of a covers band. Julia follows in similar mid-tempo fashion with her cracked Janis Ian sounding voice over intricate acoustic guitar and bright harmonica touches for 'Here We Go Again'. But, it is her lilting and understated love song 'Wasted' that outshines it. Definitely her most tender song - she is often spikier in approach; it's also enhanced by nice strings in what is another characteristic of this album - for a laid back sound the well measured additions give variety of texture yet seem to slide perfectly into place.Rising to the challenge, Angus responds with another great sunny tune: 'Just A Boy', and 'Bella' is beautiful if not as immediately ingratiating. The first jolt to the dreamy glow comes with the warped lyrics of 'Hollywood' - Julia's take on the pedalling of false hope, and her 'A Book Like This' is noticeably darker and pleading, though the latter has a tendency to drag with its repeated chorus refrain. The soul searching on departure of a loved one continues for Angus on 'Silver Coin', with piano (Fran Healy 18th century one at that) being another shared element. They are back to top more optimistic sounding form with the lolloping soft shoe shuffle of 'Stranger' with the most sustained falsetto from Angus. But don't panic - it's quivering and fragile in line with the rest of their material rather than stridently Mika.'Soldier' sees a deranged sounding Julia speaking to a stuttering waltz and breaking into la-da-da's at the end - a bit like Eddi Reader going off on one (which is usually a great thing). Give her a wide berth mate, that's my advice. 'Jewels and Gold' is the only track that hasn't registered and I can't immediately recall from Angus, and the comparative dip in interest continues with the start of Julia's Bjork-like 'Another Day', but more unrestrained performance and a kids choir just about turn it around at the end. The album tips its hat and wanders off nonchalantly whistling (yes, literally) and swaying to bass clarinet with 'Horse And Cart'. Cue seven dwarves.Most songs tell a story, hence the album title, and they have a unity of consistent texture that, in addition to the general consistency in quality, makes this an organic album to play in full. I have been listening to this a lot - it hasn't got tired yet and there are several stand out gentle corkers. They are touring extensively in the UK in the next two months. 78%Links Angus & Julia Stone [official site] [myspace]