Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou - S/T

Label: Loose Music Website: Official Website What husband and wife duo Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou have given us here is a portrait of an idealistic England. It is the soundtrack to a life that once existed, but no one is quite sure when or how. ‘Allotment Song’ is a charming and expressive opening to their self titled debut. “I for one just can’t wait for the spring.” Straight away it is clear that Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou excel at telling stories and writing engaging melodies with intricate instrumentation. Their voices blend together comfortably; however some of the harmonies can prove to be slightly jarring. ‘Sally Took the Ivory’ shows that when Hannah-Lou is given lead vocals, her mournful delivery is far more effective than their shared vocals. The record seems to lack focus sometimes; Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou seem more interested in living up to the clichés of their contemporaries and predecessors than they are in finding their own feet. They appear to shine when it comes to mournful narratives, such as ‘Concorde’. “Nor am I going to see the likes of her again, no way.” The songs are delicate, holding a quiet strength to them. In places, their self titled debut is predictable and you’re never sure if you’ve heard the same thing a few tracks before. At times the instrumentation is stark, with only the guitar line and voices for company. ‘Heaven Knows’ is a ballad that shows how much of Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou is poured into these songs. You can hear the yearning in the delivery and it’s a touching high point of the album. When Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou find their strengths, the songs work incredibly well; when they don’t, it seems as though they miss the point slightly. This doesn’t mean the songs are not enjoyable, but it’s easy to expect more from them after listening to the woefully beautiful strains of ‘Ruth Drink My Whisky’. The melody is haunting and mesmerising, proving for a fascinating listen. ‘Standing Down’ contains beautifully synchronised vocals, the harmonies dancing around one another. There is something entirely endearing about the record, making it incredibly hard to dislike. Even in the places where it doesn’t quite work, each song contains a saving grace. Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou are skilled at creating stories brimming with character, as the atmospheric ‘Half Way Home’ shows. They deserve recognition for this evocative selection of songs in which the delivery is haunting, woeful and longing. Each song pushes wistful and melancholy feelings to the forefront, leaving a welcome taste of nostalgia. It is apparent that Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou aren’t trying to transform the face of music with their quietly confident approach, but that’s just fine. They have the rare gift of a connection; a connection to each other and a connection to their creation and that can only be praised.