Review: Charm of Finches, The Folk House – ‘They create the most beautiful, natural space you could imagine’

There’s an ancient Japanese meditation practice called shinrin yoku. It’s the process of forest bathing; an opportunity to lose yourself in nature, banish the stresses of the everyday world, to be calm and quiet.

If it’s permitted to hook yourself up to some music whilst you do it then Melbourne’s Charm of Finches, and their gorgeous, folkish acoustic tunes, would be the perfect soundtrack.

A busy Folk House isn’t exactly a tranquil forest but Mabel and Ivy, the Windred-Wornes sisters, create the most beautiful, natural space that you could possibly imagine. With Mabel’s acoustic guitar, the occasional violin, the odd wash of keyboards (from Ivy) and two exquisite voices you could almost hear the gentle rustle of trees.

Two sisters playing delicate folky things are bound to draw comparison with First Aid Kit but, while there’s a truth in this, Charm of Finches are entirely their own thing.  There’s a lovely juxtaposition between the swoon-some harmonies and some dark imagery.

On The Bridge they sing of loss while their voices flutter around one another. On Treading Water, those voices become liquid, ebbing and flowing. These are harmonies that only happen when two people know each other backwards.

As much as the music is delicate and reflective the chat between the two of them is gently charming and full of humour. Introducing a new song from their forthcoming album Ivy mentions it’s about getting advice on a relationship that “no one would take” from her. Mabel gives a wry smile. The Song is another harmony drenched beauty with a nagging chorus.

It’s the songs that are the thing though. Most of them this evening are taken from 2021’s Wonderful Oblivion, an album recorded in lockdown, pieced together across continents.

Concentrate on Breathing puts those harmonies front and centre whilst Canyon continues the sense of off kilter imagery mixed with heavenly pop. In the later they sing that they’ll “lift off…(they’ll) drift off…” and this they undoubtedly do.

Just before the title track of that album Mabel introduces it, calling it an “uplifting song about death”. She excuses it by telling us that their dad is an undertaker. The audience chuckled nervously; nne are sure whether she’s joking but, somehow, it would suit them perfectly.

Equally perfect was their cover of Joni Mitchell’s River, shiny and frosty, deliciously pure.

As the evening stretches languidly onwards so each song drifts heavenwards and meanders gently down a wooded path. Each song shows glimpses of sunshine through the canopy.

If they are, sometimes, a little one-paced it is a pace that’s perfect for a bit of Sunday contemplation in a metaphorical forest.

Main photo: Gavin McNamara

Read next:

• Review: The Mary Wallopers, Thekla – ‘Full of bile and righteous fury’
• Review: Skinny Lister, Thekla – ‘They have maximum pop sass’
• Review: Matt Deighton, The Folk House – ‘Utterly mesmeric’

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: