The sweet vocal harmonizing of Melbourne-based Folk Bitch Trio brings to mind figures like The Beach Boys, Fleet Foxes, First Aid Kit, or Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young—the perfect harmonic soundtrack for sitting near a campfire amid lush, majestic redwoods. An impressive debut, “Now Would Be a Good Time” is warm and perfectly uniform acoustic-folk music that lulls the listener into its cozy cocoon. Underneath the snug progressions, though, we get an exploration of early-twenties adulthood, growing pains, and failed relationships. Grace Sinclair, Jeanie Pilkington, and Heide Peverelle’s emotional explorations of young adulthood are evocative and sometimes darkly funny (particularly on “Hotel TV,” where they’re trying not to think about what’s going on in the room next door). Producer Tom Healy captures the essence of the three childhood friends’ music, creating a bittersweet, reflective atmosphere that complements their lyrics. Even with its minor flourishes of electric guitar, the folky spirit of “Now Would Be a Good Time” remains intact.
Recorded in New Zealand at Roundhead Studios, the more laid-back atmosphere of Auckland can be felt in harmony with their music nearly to the point that they could bill themselves as a quartet.
The Fat Angel Sings 