Peach & Quiet may appear as a new name with a debut album unveiled to the waiting world, but there are heaps of experience behind the facade which essentially functions as life partners duo Heather Read and Jonny Miller. As a first outing JUST BEYOND THE SHINE skips across the airwaves with a sense of purpose and cheery demeanour, whilst oozing with the class and structure of a seasoned operation. The album is a prime blend of luscious folk rock delicately decorated with a 60s sheen and some sincere country-folk in the tradition of that combo-genre's finest duets.
Two names that jumped out from the engine room of Peach & Quiet are Steve Dawson and Adam Dobres, both witnessed playing in the UK over the years - the former in conjunction with Birds of Chicago and the latter as a member of Ruth Moody's touring band. Indeed the multiple guitar parts that the pair likely added are an integral part of this album's appeal that hits you straight from the opening bars of the first track.
'Empty to Fill' is the song that launches the album with Miller teeing off a vocal contribution that sways between switched leads and some delightful duet efforts. Jonny Miller is a 30 year plus stalwart of the Canadian west coast music scene and doubles up as the main writer on a record comprising of nine tracks, of which all but one are band originals. The exception being another version of 'Seven Daffodils' to join the many others since this song first surfaced in the late 50s. A couple of the originals are co-written with Miller's partner Heather Read, who chips in with her own solo composition - 'Shoreline After a Storm'. Read also takes vocal lead on this track which is one of the album's darker numbers awash with cinematic tendencies and full on folk rather than a hybrid effort.
Just prior to this number, Read takes the listener into exquisite country territory with the gorgeous 'California Way'- a clear standout candidate in my book closely followed by 'Flowers Grow' and 'For My Love'. The first of these sees the album lean back in a 60s folk rock direction complete with jangly guitar while the second aims for the top in the tender duet ballad stakes and ascends to the summit. If this last one had a twin track on the album, it would have to be 'Will You', complete with a classic country-folk sound and securely anchored in the core of the album.
Throughout a playing time that just about exceeds half an hour, you feel suspended in familiar territory as each song is accompanied by a popular vibe to make the album accessible to all. JUST BEYOND THE SHINE puts a marker down that 2021 could be one those years that hits new heights. Outside the realms of hyperbole, Peach & Quiet has made a record that is easy to admire and ripe for enjoyment. Fundamentals maybe, but when in place the potential for a record to grow is boundless.
Bandcamp is a recommended source to check out and support this album.
