Smoke Fairies

After Smoke Fairies' last album in 2012, Jessica Davies and Katherine Blamire considered permanently dispersing but finally decided on a shake-up rather than a split. the result is their most sonically interesting yet. Moving on from pastoral, atmospheric folk, album No 3 incorporates murmuring bass lines and shady grooves (Shadow Inversions), deeply sensual vocals (Misty Versions) and snaking melodies with shoegaze-style electric guitar, as heard on slinky jam Koto. Want It Forever is almost poppy, its vague allusions to new wave reminiscent of an inverted Blondie tune, and there's a hint of Phil Spector's production on We've Got Birds. The duo's low-key intimacy occasionally straddles monotony, but one can't deny a newfound magic to their sound. smokefairies.com
Download: Misty Versions, Want It Forever