Dig On Names****

It may be time for She Keeps Bees to come out of the shadows. New York duo Jessica Larrabee and Andy LaPlant have gathered plenty of plaudits before now for their stinging, emotional retro-fit indie blues, but Dig Onpitches that vintage sound into a whole new game. Recorded in a log-house up the side of the Catskill Mountains as opposed to the city apartment that is their normal haunt, it's the sparseness of the arrangements and the warmth of Larrabee's voice which will initially snare you. But these are songs that are primed to get under your skin. Blind to the Cupcomes with a sinister twist to its riff which keeps you gripped for the duration, Saturn Returnis a smouldering slice of moody blues, and Vultureshows off Larrabee's ability to howl at the moon as well as any other blueswoman in the business. Another step in the right direction. See shekeepsbees.com

Download tracks: Vulture, Blind to the Cup, Saturn Return