The Dunwells - Blind Sighted Faith (2012) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

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The Dunwells - Blind Sighted Faith (2012) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

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The Dunwells - Blind Sighted Faith (2012)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time - 45:05 minutes | 1,09 GB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Artwork: Digital booklet

Leeds-based English folk-rock outfit The Dunwells formed in 2009 around the talents of siblings Joseph (vocals, guitar) and David Dunwell (vocal, piano, banjo, guitar), their childhood friend Jonny Lamb (drums), and local players David Hanson (lead guitar) and Lee Dawson (bass), the latter of whom left the group in 2011 and was replaced by Lamb's cousin Rob Clayton. Specializing in lush five-part vocal harmonies and employing a heady mix of electric and acoustic instrumentation that has drawn comparisons to Mumford & Sons, Fleet Foxes, and folk-rock legends like the Eagles and Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Dunwells released their debut album, Blind Sighted Faith, through the Playing in Traffic Record label on February 14, 2012.

Continuing Britain's recent fascination with Americana, five-piece Leeds outfit the Dunwells' debut album, Blind Sighted Faith, is an unashamedly retro affair which harks back to the early West Coast rock of Eagles and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Recorded in Willie Nelson's Austin studio and produced by John Porter (Ryan Adams, Santana), its 11 tracks show little evidence of the band's West Yorkshire roots, with only the rousing nu-folk of opener "I Could Be a King" and the title track, a shimmering U2-esque ode to perseverance, deviating from their classic rock intentions. Resolutely old-school it may be, particularly on the vintage blues of "Follow the Road" and the gospel-tinged ballad "Oh Lord," but it's a pastiche they mostly pull off with conviction. The band's impressive five-part harmonies soar as effortlessly as Fleet Foxes' on the lovelorn acoustics of "Only Me," "Hand That Feeds" is an infectious slice of soul-rock which combines swirling psychedelic organs with foot-stomping Motown beats, while the melodic AOR of "Goodnight Mr City" could quite easily have been a leftover from Hotel California. The slower numbers drift into mediocrity, while there's little here that can't be found among a thousand other less fortunate pub rock bands, but the band's obvious fondness for the '70s folk-rock era ensures Blind Sighted Faith is largely an authentic and affectionate homage.