Radiant Heart’s new track ‘Duet’ inhabits the same gentle universe as their 2020 album Brocken Spectre but it didn’t have an easy beginning as band member Celia explains: “We had written this song but it just wasn’t really hitting like we’d hope it would. By coincidence, Ellis (from Trust Fund) got in touch to ask if we were going to be playing any shows any time soon, and the collaboration just came off the back of that. We asked if he wanted to try singing some vocals and it just blossomed from there”. And blossomed is the right word as this track blooms like a glorious and sweet-smelling flower.
‘Duet’ drifts in on the soft strum of a guitar, restrained pluck of a banjo and a plaintive vocal line. Slowly it builds, bringing in violin, piano and drums, becoming the kind of song lonesome cowboys listen to while drifting the plains under a big sky. The song has both micro and macro qualities, it feels as small and intimate as a song round a campfire whereas the final section is awash with widescreen harmonies that recall the otherworldly voices of Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Radiant Heart were joined on this track by Ellis Jones (aka Trust Fund) – singing, Stephen Wragg – playing the piano and violin and Graham Pett – playing the bass guitar.
Radiant Heart will be joining New York’s American Poetry Club in summer for their UK Tour, also being joined by RN Taylor (Los Campesinos!) in London and Manchester. The tour dates are listed under the lyrics below.
Radiant Heart socials: Twitter | Instagram | Bandcamp
Trust Fund socials: Twitter | Bandcamp
Duet – Lyrics
It’s alright to be afraid
You’re looking for a place to stay
It’s January it’s getting late
Come home
The little things are lighter now
There’s money in the joint account
And they’re all rooting in the crowd below
So call me when you know
Baby this ones a duet
We haven’t got to talking yet
But this is all the trouble that I know will never go
And though it’s mostly in my head
Or something kind of mean you said
But I can’t hit a single note alone
So tell me how it goes
Baby this one’s a duet
I don’t care what the record man says
No I don’t care what the record man says
I can’t hit a single not without you
Baby this one’s a duet
I don’t care what the record man says
I can’t hit a single note alone
So tell me how it goes
It’s alright to be afraid
You’re looking for a place to stay
It’s January it’s getting late
Come home
’cause I can’t hit a single note without you
Review by Paul F Cook
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28th May – The Victoria, London*
30 June – Bristol, Exchange Basement
1 July – Liverpool, QUARRY
2 July – Manchester, Thirsty Scholar
3 July – Glasgow, Ushi’s Coffee Corner
4 July – Dundee, The Hunter S Thompson
5 July – Leeds, Wharf Chambers
6 July – Nottingham, JT Soar
7 July – London, New Cross Inn
*Radiant Heart only