Stereo Naked, the name nodding back to the band’s origin as a pared back duo, are an acoustic four piece with their own take on Bluegrass and Old Time Music. Launched at a sellout Celtic Connections show, UPSIDE DOWN, as well as being a quote from the first track, also nods to Cologne based bassman Pierce’s New Zealand origins and Australian fiddle mandolin player Pepita who splits her time between Europe and Australia. With easy swing and grace, there is a spontaneity and lightness of touch to the music on the album that nicely reflects their live sound.
“Labour Of Love” sets out so much of what there is to love about Stereo Naked, the pared back intro with Pierce Black’s tender vocal, the slow build as other instruments are added and the perfect blend of Pierce, Julia Zech’s and band members vocals. “Square One” and “Blue Light Antics” are more straight ahead bluegrass folk, showing the hot music at Stereo Naked’s core with Zech and Black’s contrasting but complimentary voices. “Old Flame” is edgy, all bowed double bass and Julia’s plaintive banjo, with contrasting sweet vocals. The lyrics describe a dream, but have a sinister edge. “Wrong Chord” is a tender, slightly tongue in cheek musician’s country love song. “Prelude” and “Hold To Your Love” with Julia’s heartfelt vocals, atmospheric bass motif and Theodore Barnard’s jazzy guitar are just perfect. Throughout the album, alongside the guitar, by turns either celestial or hot footed is Rain Of Animals Pepita Emmerichs’ fiddle. Stereo Naked on tracks like “Wrong Chord and “Concrete Mountsin” like to contrast old timey vocals with interesting arrangements and some tricky time changes. “Sun And Moon” with a harmonium like fiddle, wonderful bowed bass and guitar is a final philosophical love song. Following on from unique tracks like “Dive Right In”, the truly surreal “Sanity and the utterly sublime alt folk “Old Solo” on 2021’s UNSEEN, Stereo Naked make music that is thoughtful, beautiful and ear catching.
Marc Higgins 18/03/23
https://stereonaked.bandcamp.com/
Self released 9 tracks
Time Past and Time Passing 