Dear Heart
Self-Released, 2022
9/10
The husband and wife duo of Stefani Rose and Daniel Martin make some superb family music across these 9 tunes that cover Americana, country, folk and pop with plenty of Nashville spirit.
“Half Right” gets the listen off to a very melodic and warm start, where punchy drumming, smooth singing and playful guitar makes for a glowing Americana demeanor, and “Cars” follows with warm acoustic strumming and expressive singing that’s indebted to classic country nods.
Further down the line, the dreamy intimacy of “Small World” is quite stirring, while the more rugged Martin led “Big Dog” is a thicker display of thumping country influenced rock.
Approaching the end, the vocally harmonic “Lemonade” balances both swift moments of fluid roots rock and calm ebbs of beauty, and “Dear Heart” exits the listen with Rose’s pretty pipes front and center across the energetic finish.
This is the 6th album from the duo, and it sure is full of family friendly themes that are universally relatable, and the music is instantly memorable, meticulous and heart warming.
Travels well with: Wendy And DB- Into The Little Blue House; Again Again- Your Voice Is Magic