Gentle, intuitive, and mystical, the music on Faeland’s debut album All My Swim blends folk traditions from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Singer-songwriter stylings and a dose of pop bring a captivating sound with instant appeal. Faeland is the brainchild of singer-songwriters Rebecca Nelson and Jacob Morrison, a project designed to break them both out of their comfort zones and to allow them to do meaningful work, not merely start another band. This lead to All My Swim, a song cycle that deals with the deeper themes of humanity like love, healing, and magic. Nelson and Morrison come from families of artists, creatives and healers and this gives a natural quality to these ideas that would flounder in lesser hands. The sound is acoustic guitars and double bass mixed with drums, harp, santour, and violin. Ethereal, bittersweet vocals float across the mix and complete the picture. Echoes of Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac and Gillian Welch are detectable but the vibe is original and individual. Faeland’s sound and mission pair up well together and create a beautiful vulnerability that is authentic and true. Songs like “We’re Just A Love Song”, “All My Swim” and “The Wheel” offer listeners a seductive realness that rises above all the pushed product out there and must be heard and experienced to be fully understood. Faeland’s focus on positive impact and ample musical skills have the potential to touch the world. Fans of well-executed modern folk will want to find this band soon, while it can still be seen up close.
