Mandolin Orange Haste Make/Hard Hearted Stranger

Independent, 2011

One to watch. A great duo delivering some fine songs.

• It may seem a bold move by this Chapel Hill, North Carolina based duo to release a double album as their second release. Generally such ventures can be condensed into a single disc, the double resulting from an abundance of studio time and an inability to edit themselves.

• However Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz have delivered two discs that withstand scrutiny without one jot of filler to be seen. Normally a duo with Marlin on guitars and Frantz on fiddle they recorded an album with a rhythm section, the 'Haste Make' disc we have here. Buoyed on a songwriting jag they went on to produce a further album’s worth of songs featuring just the two of them, the 'Hard Hearted Stranger' offering.

  The result is this two-sided opportunity to drink in their undoubted talent. What both discs display is the duo’s affinity and love of American folk music. While the drums and bass of James Wallace and Jeff Crawford grace the first album Marlin and Frantz provide enough variety playing between them guitar, mandolin, harmonica, organ, fiddle and lap steel to blur the distinction between band and duo. The result is a collection of songs that in the first instance showcases their fine singing, either solo or in harmony.In addition, Frantz displays some really fine fiddle playing throughout. As to the songs; all self written, they glide by one by one reinforcing the belief that given the right breaks this pair could become as firm a fixture in the Americana lexicon as much better known artists. With similarities to artists such as Gillian Welch, Michael Hurley and even Gram and Emmylou it’s a delight to listen to from start to finish.

  It’s difficult to pick out favourites here but 'Hard Hearted Stranger' and 'Angel' both stand out with fine lyrics and some inspired vocals. All in all a great double album.