Mike Harding of BBC Radio 2 describes the young Carrivick twin sisters from South Devon as a superbly talented pair o'lasses".
The 'lasses' began as teenage buskers and with this, their 5th, album they could now almost be classed as veterans.
Produced by Joe Rusby in Pure Studios, it's a confident, feel good record full of bright and breezy tunes that hark back to simpler times.
The modern world doesn't intrude too much on their songs except for the title track which tells of farmers and fishermen's livelihoods being threatened by the building of a new hotel.
Their stock in trade are odes to The Moon and birds, or songs about the importance of love and companionship such as I Know You and Old Friend.
The swing of If You Asked Me is a chirpy tongue in cheek send up of courting rituals but you're never in any doubt that the two women are romantics at heart.
There are two instrumentals, both written by Charlotte, the first is a breezy guitar and fiddle tune called Making Horses while Slap On Elevenis a clap along number (complete with diagrams to show you how).
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Tom Breese plays double bass throughout and Blair Dunlop sings backing vocals on Bird. Otherwise, the duo display their multi-instrumental skills on acoustic guitar, fiddle, mandolin, dobro and banjo while singing sweet harmonies.
Pretty Fair Damsel is the one non original, the tale of a soldier returning in disguise to test that his true love has been faithful while he was away (she passes).
Lady Howard, the album's best track IMO, could also be mistaken for a traditional ballad as it tells of a woman cursed beyond the grave :"her rest is not eternal for the night makes her its slave".
I'd like to hear the sisters take on some darker or more dramatic material like this to contrast with all the sweetness and light but, at the same time, the unfashionable absence of cynicism is something that ought to be preserved.
The Carrivick Sisters website
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