fork and flower: folk favorite in october: angus & julia stone

i coulnd't wait to finally introduce you to angus & julia stone, the brother-sister duo from australia that's an absolute must-hear if you like anything in the genre of folk, blues, accoustic and singer-songwriter. their second and latest album 'down the way' was released in march 2010. and i think they produced it on their own, that is while travelling the world.

angus & julia stone, picture via afk.de

angus & julia stone, via rollogrady

their music is very soft, but julias broken, a little rough and sometimes imperfect voice is a nice contrast to it. i never quite get used to her singing, frankly speaking. you see, since i'm singing myself, i might be a little hypercritical. and honestly, there are parts when i really think she's got far more than an acceptable voice. and then there are phrases when i just think 'oh my god girl, that's not really what i'd call a technique...'. turns out: in the end, that's exactly what makes the stones' music so charming and endearing to me. their music is like a spontaneous moment that has been frozen in time, with all it's imperfectness, and thus making it all the more memorable.

my favorite song? definitely 'the devil's tears', off the album 'down the way'. firstly for the melody in general. secondly for angus' voice, which is so soft but strong. thirdly for the part in two voices (i always sing or hum along with a third voice, which, i think, sounds really lovely). last but not least for the lyrics. they go as follows:

some call love a curse

some call love a thief

but she's my home

and she's as much a part of this broken heart

see broken bones always seem to mend

it's not that i'm broken-hearted (anymore. or actually: right now). but i have been, quite a few times. next time i'm broken hearted i won't stop listening to this song, and i will find some hope in it, i'm sure.