There’s something about the warming temperatures hinting at the edges of summer that beckon us to go out and track down some of the most endearing indie folk tunes we can find. Maybe it’s the thought of mountain adventures, adorned with a backpack weighed down with the essentials. Maybe it’s fondly recalling late-night, lakeside campfire memories where the only things that matter are a circle of good friends and a bottle of quality whiskey. Whatever it is, it always happens around this time of year, and thankfully, Frances Luke Accord is here to satisfy that itch.
Made up of Brian Powers and Nicholas Gunty, this Windy City duo has an Americana-rich charm that’s simply irresistible, especially when both members pair up for one of their pitch-perfect vocal harmonies. At times, their modern folk interpretations remind us of Iron & Wine, at times they call on nostalgic associations of Simon & Garfunkle, and we also can’t help but shake hearing Hunter Hunted, especially with those harmonies we mentioned earlier.
We have to start by covering one of the most interesting origin stories we’ve heard, which comes from one of the oldest songs in the group’s repertoire. “Nowhere To Be found” was actually originally recorded in Kkindu Village, Uganda during their senior year at the University of Nortre Dame. When Powers and Gunty were putting together the Fluke, they revisited it once more and decided to include it.
We decided to re-record it for Fluke because we wanted an optimistic voice (both sonically and narratively speaking) to contrast the more sober corners of the album. We feel that this version also reflects our growth as performers and producers since our first release.
Beyond that, it’s honestly difficult to highlight other songs to talk about for one simple reason – they’re all so damn good. Take “Tangled In Your Web,” which takes a slight departure from other offerings, showcasing their ability to hone in on classic rock sensibilities. While the essence of their sound is still very much in tact, the calculated guitar riffs give it an edge that other tracks don’t have. Conversely, tracks like “Who Do You Run From” showcase the frolicking, playful folk nature that’s perfect for that soon-to-be sunshiney weather.
As a collective experience, it’s truly one that’s worthy of a start-to-finish session. With that in mind, we won’t keep you from it any longer.
’The Nightline (ft. Katie Van Dusen)’
Related items:
