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The one thing The Rheingans Sisters are not short of is innovation. Every album they release reveals another dimension to their music as they again shift perspective, revealing another unexplored facet; it’s like they’re in a continual creative ascendance. In these pages, their 2018 release, Bright Field, was called one of the most innovative folk albums of the last decade, while their last album, Receiver (2020), saw them up their game even further, with Thomas Blake declaring it a masterpiece of modern folk music. Their next step seems to continue that trend.
This month (27th September), they will release their new album, Start Close In, produced by the Juno-nominated contemporary composer Adam Pietrykowski. They take full advantage of their multi-instrumentalist talents; to quote from their album press, they “weave between the dissonance of John Cale and the delicacy of chamber music; using violin, viola, tambourin à cordes, 5-string banjo, gourd banjo, flabuta, electric guitar, jaw harp, bones, triangle, and foot percussion. They’re also joined on three tracks by saxophonist Daniel Thorne.”
Today sees the release of their new single, ‘Drink Up‘, and an accompanying video which accentuates the colourful minimalism of their music. There’s a spaciousness to their arrangements which allows the individual instruments to really shine through. Here, they lift the veil on these “mundane-meets-apocalyptic” times. The accompanying video captures the spirit of the song perfectly as the sisters dance and perform while the cogs of everyday life turn ever onward around them. The excellent video was made by the talented Sam Wisternoff.
Rowan on ‘Drink Up’
“I think this song is trying to sum up something of what it feels like to live in this late – but never seeming to end! – capitalist era. We feast and yet we are never full… sometimes there is some surreal joy to be had in our slightly mundane-meets-apocalyptic collective experience of 2024. You have to find joy where you can.”
I strongly recommend that you Pre-order Start Close In. It’s available on CD, Digital and on the rather attractive (and limited edition) Galaxy-Orange Vinyl.
Also, the first 100 Bandcamp pre-orders will be signed!
Pre-Order Start Close In: Bandcamp
Pre-Save Start Close In: https://rheinganssisters.lnk.to/StartCloseIn
The Rheingans Sisters are also touring their album from the end of September:
The Rheingans Sisters Tour Dates
Sep 27 – Allendale Village Hall, Allendale, UK
Nov 7 – The Cornish Bank, Falmouth, UK
Nov 8 – Pound Arts Centre, Corsham, UK
Nov 9 – Millbrook Folk Club, Torpoint, UK
Nov 10 – Ashburton Arts Centre, Ashburton, UK
Nov 12 – Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick, UK
Nov 13 – Leicester Guildhall, Leicester, UK
Nov 14 – Round Chapel, London, UK
Nov 15 – Stamford Arts Centre, Stamford, UK
Nov 18 – Colchester Arts Centre, Colchester, UK
Nov 20 – Liverpool Philharmonic Music Rooms, Liverpool, UK
Nov 21 – Firth Hall, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
Nov 22 – Cat Asylum Brewery, Newark, UK
Nov 23 – Turner Sims Concert Hall, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
More: https://www.rheinganssisters.co.uk/
