The Staves
Album: The Motherlode EP
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 3
Website: http://www.thestaves.com

Sibling sisters Emily, Jessica and Camilla Staveley-Taylor from Watford make up The Staves. They've been getting quite a name of late by doing support slots for Mumford & Sons and Michael Kiwanuka, but this EP is my first encounter with them - and it sure won't be the last! The Staves' forte is three-part vocal harmony, and they're audibly inspired by the classic harmony sounds of the 60s with which they grew up (CSN, S&G etc.).

The Motherlode is their third EP release (a full-length album is due later this year), and presents three rather gorgeous songs where their by-now-established trademark bewitching singing is augmented with simple strummed electric guitars and here and there a touch of bass and percussion - although the first sound you hear is a harmonium. The harmony work on the title song recalls to mind the early albums of the Roches without quite the same degree of occasional acerbity, while the closing Wisely And Slow is altogether more gently phrased, indeed a good measure of the track is done entirely acappella, whereas Pay Us No Mind is bluesier in feel yet wrongfoots the unwary listener with some delicious harmonic fills that you wouldn't expect to work in that musical style. Tender, beautiful and wholly irresistible - can't wait for that full-lengther!

David Kidman