The majestically pleasant music of Emily and Jake was a dream to review. Elegant harmonising with folk-pop tones – a match made in heaven for a reviewer like me. Their vocals are homely and multi-dimension and their album “St. Augustine” is a catchy and delicate treat in the pop-fuelled music scene we live in today.

“Where Love Went to Gamble”, “thrills, they never last” and “I am yours and you are mine” has all the hallmarks of a country song – even from the title alone. “Long Distance Runner, “Each morning when you wake up, stretching with the morning sun” creates a positive energy for the listener without falling into niche territory. It is an easy, feel-good song that perfectly follows on from the opening track.

“Last Bus to Portland” contains whistling as well as coherently story told lyrics; “Feeling cold, one Winter night” and a triumphant chorus that will be repeating in your head long after your first listen. A song that exposes country and folk music at its best.  “Natalie’s Song” has a slower and more melancholic feel than the previous songs but is also uplifted further by its tender vocals that are encompassed by the simple yet empathic guitar backing tones.

“The Gunslinger” has an amalgamation of instruments to welcome the listener to the song; ranging from piano to cello(?). “Velvet night” and “Icy gaze” help to set the scene, and the vocal dynamics help to intuitively guide the listener to the most crucial parts of the story. “Her Favorite Song” sounds funky, with the lyrics held to a state of elegance by the sing-song style, “we can feel the rhythm in our feet” and “her favorite song was any song I knew”. It’s these kinds of cheesy but fitting lyrics that make a great folk song.

“Exit Eighteen” has guitar and piano, which work in sync with the heavenly vocals and pleasant lyrics; “my heart was jerked all over, it was more than I could take”. “Effervescent Zephyr” (no, I don’t know how to pronounce that) is a wonderfully halcyon of floating vocals and airy instrumentals, “daytime dreamer”.

The album ends with “Caleb”, with short, struts guitar pieces opening it and leading onto perhaps the most brilliant harmonising on the album altogether.

Check out this wonderful album on Spotify!