Olenka & The Autumn Lovers

Hailing from my hometown I feel slightly obliged to rep this album/band. Fortunately, because it's actually good I can come away from this endeavour without feeling dirty. This self-titled debut of Eastern European tinged indie-folk is most easily likened to big(ger) name acts such as Beirut or DeVotchKa. This parallel is rather apt, but in simply doing that I would be doing unjustice to both the band and the album. The group take their trained musicianship and great vocal harmonies to some very beautiful places. "Iron Pump" is a short little number with a stuttering chorus and lovely vocal harmonies. It's in these subdued moments, like "Hushush" that Olenka and her lovers are at their best. At nearly 7 minutes, album opener "Ballad of Lonely Bear" is by far the longest piece on the album and it feels that way; mostly because it strays too far into traditional European folk area. That in itself isn't necessarily a bad thing, but comparing it to the more indie-folk vibe of stunning album closer "When We Were Children", there's a stark contrast. Alluding to ancestral folk within the indie-folk framework fits better for the band and luckily that's what they stick to most of the time on this debut.

7.7/10.0