Two folk duos with breathtaking harmonies

LASS – “Leave yourself behind”
-LASS make me feel the same way I felt when I found The Staves and the Harmaleighs. That’s high praise in these folk harmony circles. The first time I clicked play on this track from LASS I thought, “oh, ok, they’re going to take off for sure.” I didn’t even hesitate. You can hear it in the composition style, the production, and the absolutely exceptional quality of the vocal harmonies. This is a sound that’s radio ready, sync ready, and infinitely shareable. Heck, even the lyrics of the track demand that we all sing along at the live show. You’ll recognize me at the show… I’ll be the big oafish suburban dad smiling like he just found his new favorite harmony band.

The Sweeplings – “Without you”
-I rarely make the comparison of a song with a “hymn,” but in the case of this track from The Sweeplings, it’s certainly warranted. The delicate vocal harmony in the opening begs comparisons with the Civil Wars (yes, really). The string work dances between classic and contemporary folk music, creating a bit more of the chamber folk sound than traditional. It works, trust me. The almost prayerful delivery of the “what would I do without you?” line is truly exceptional. This is a love song. It’s a grief song. It’s a hope song. If you’ve lost someone that you love, you’ll probably want some tissues and a few extra minutes for this one.