On their latest album, roots duo Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno create a sweeping amalgam from the Pacific North West to Appalachia fusing an abundance of traditional and contemporary vibes. Marked narrative purveyed in majestic musicianship pours out of talent to drool over as we grapple with the notion that nostalgia can have no age barrier - old or young. IMAGINARY PEOPLE is the second album released on Free Dirt Records under the shortened moniker Viv & Riley. Prior to that it was Vivian Leva's 2018 self titled album that aroused awareness to the extent where she toured overseas with Riley including a stop off at Thimblemill Library in the West Midlands. Five years later there has to be renewed optimism of a resumption to these travels especially with a boosted canon of extra material.
Ten tracks provide the content for the new album driven by eight new songs, a new tune and a re-interpreted traditional number to wrap up the collection. Proceedings are kicked off with a pair of songs inspired by the childhood roots of both parties. Twangy guitar, a breezy melody and impulsive beat come to the fore in 'Kygers Hill', an ode to the Virginia upbringing of Leva. She leads the vocals on the opener, a general trend across the record pitched against a smattering of exceptions. The following track veers thousands of miles west to the Pacific area where Calcagno grew up. Although Leva is prominent on the vocals of 'Sauvie Island', embedded harmonies are detected more and we become wholly settled in with the stellar string picking. The lyrics 'I'm coming for you' sketch a sense of dreamy longing. This track comes across as another ode and is rinsed with classic country routes.
If the album gets off on the right footing, the same can be said to the end. A similar country feel appears in the opening of the penultimate track 'The Long Way', which is another song featuring Leva on lead vocals. It is safe to say that the essence of the album is felt in this song. The duo leave their writing skills on the table for the finale and turn a hand to re-interpreting the traditional song 'The Blackest Crow'. The view that this song portrays the vocal harmonies at their best prevails and a subtle instrumental part towards the end resonates. A ballad with a simple accompaniment sums up this ideal timeless closer proving that five minutes for a good song is never wasted.
On the topic of album variants, a sizzling fiddle-led tune appears in the second half, Buoyant, light and accomplished come across from a fun offering titled 'Chance Creek' springing some fun-sized hoedown into the mix. Calcogno bring fiddle, banjo and other assorted strings into the mix, while Leva focusses mainly on acoustic guitar. Together with a merry band of other players they bring a sweet sound to the party.
Vocal variance can be found in a pair of tracks spaced out across a running time spanning 37 minutes. Calcogno lends some airy vocal to 'Is It All Over', which further reading implies its take on the billionaire space race. For a more general reception, the union of vocals and lyrics floating around the room conjure up a distinct voice enhancing a cute balance. This vocal approach can also be found on the gently strummed number 'How to Lose'. A song that does refer to substance use in the context of how to live and how to lose.
The other three tracks all take their cue from Leva's vocal lead. A punchy opening helped by percussion kicking in starts to form 'The General' where neat breaks in the melody help the song move along. The album title track digs in at the centre point and leans heavily in the direction that Viv & Riley are not just another retro act. An electric presence is felt more in 'Imaginary People' than elsewhere on the record alongside a powerful context with fiddle blossoming within a contemporary spirit. 'Flashing Lights' sees the foot slightly lifted off the pedal. A faint sense of steel eases into a reflective, tender and poignant number where a dreamy delves evolves into a slow dancer and relaxed swayer.
Melting vocals; an instrumental delight and a feel that you are riding a progressive wave of roots music. Viv & Riley have the potential to move into the major league of duo acts. IMAGINARY PEOPLE captures the present state of a quest sublimely. For the listener it sates a brief moment of pensive solitude.
