LOVE OVER GOLD: PIETA BROWN
& LUCIE THORNE LITTLE SECRET RECORDS
release date: September 9, 2013
Hushed harmonies merge with lush guitars to define the striking sound of recently formed international duo, LOVE OVER GOLD. Singer-songwriters Pieta Brown (U.S.) and Lucie Thorne (Australia) are both artists recognized for their distinctive vocal stylings and poetic sensibilities, and together, as LOVE OVER GOLD, the blend of their contrasting styles takes on a vivid life of its own. The pair met during Pieta's first tour of Australia and became fast friends and fans of each other's work. Now, just two and a half years later, as LOVE OVER GOLD they present Fall To Rise. Recorded in Pieta's home town in Iowa, Fall to Rise traverses the open expanses of both continents to a place where voices, guitars and poetry meet.
Bringing to mind the ethereal sounds of indie acts such as Iron & Wine and Bon Iver, while subtly evoking the feel of Americana greats Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch, LOVE OVER GOLD impresses as both brand new and inexplicably familiar. Spanning various borders and many miles, stemming from an unspoken musical understanding and chemistry, this new collaboration resonates with a poignant and natural beauty.
"Making Fall To Rise pushed me artistically but above all it was really fun! I've sung with a lot of different people," says Pieta, "but this is the first time I've been a part of trying to merge two voices into a singular sound. I'm especially proud of this kind of blatant tenderness in the one big sound we created... and that happened totally organically."
These two songwriters already have a wealth of accolades to their credit. Pieta Brown has toured with Mark Knopfler, J.J. Cale, John Prine, Brandi Carlile, Ani Difranco, and Calexico among others. Her last release, Mercury, was named #1 Folk Album of 2012 by the Roots Music Radio Report, and her forthcoming album (early 2014) includes stellar guest appearances by Justin Vernon and Amos Lee. Lucie Thorne's albums have been short listed for the prestigious Australian Music Prize; awarded Album of The Year by the Sydney Morning Herald; and she's had work selected for inclusion on a Universal Records compilation alongside Leonard Cohen and Radiohead.
Though Pieta Brown and Lucie Thorne are each firmly planted on their own artistic path, LOVE OVER GOLD developed seamlessly. Their musical correspondence blossomed after they first met in 2010, and in the fall of 2012 Lucie detoured to Iowa en route to a European tour. There, in the heartland of the United States, Pieta and Lucie honed in on a new kind of shared work - around the kitchen table and then in to the studio. From these sessions grew the 10 songs that make Fall To Rise.
"Right from the start there's been such joyfulness to this project; and such an ease to our connection" says Lucie. "From the very first song we worked on together it's felt like finding a songwriting soulmate".
With spacious electric hues and driving acoustics, these songs explore the timeless themes of love and longing ("Then We Were Flying," "Coming Up Crimson," "Seaside Blues"), paint crystalline character portraits of those both close to home ("Little Bird," "Gentle Bear") and homeless (Holding No One), weave the personal with the political through the natural world ("350 Parts Per Million," "Driftless Now"), while sustaining a pure and melodic grace ("In Between The Lines," "Causeway" and "To The Sun").
LOVE OVER GOLD's debut, Fall To Rise renews with sweet fervor the ancient undertaking of creating harmony.
