Letters
Son Canciones, 2021
9/10
There’s been plenty of interesting Covid music projects, but Wearyland’s Letters might be the most touching. Birthed from letters and songs written between a father and a daughter, who were both struggling with pandemic lockdowns in Belgium, Alain Quateau and Maaike Quateau are joined by Ward Dhoore and Marc Quinart on the musical portion of this sophomore album.
“On A Lonely Night” starts the listen with intimate piano, as breathy vocals enter the very poetic and bare beauty, and “The Old Man Said” follows with soundbites amid the more forceful singing and pretty guitar playing in the folk influenced climate.
Landing near the middle, the soft drumming of “Our Little Town” complements the expressive duet, while “Kathleen (I Won’t Give Up On You)” offers some rootsy flavor in the lush, emotive landscape. “This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Dreams”, the best of the best, then flows with a minimal delivery that’s eloquent and stirring in its simplicity.
Close to the end, the quicker “Till You Walk In Again” emits a heartfelt and sophisticated folk gem that sounds like it could have been penned in any decade since the ‘60s, and “The Swallow” exits with the pair harmonizing in a dreamy finish of sublime song craft.
The sparing use of keys, bass, guitar and percussion is quite effective here, as the often fragile singing truly becomes the focus of these vulnerable and moving songs. The limited edition CD package even comes with the letters the father and daughter exchanged, providing a very personal gesture to the effort.
Travels well with: Teghan Devon- Little Lion; Sarah Morris- All Mine