![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/rough_tumble.jpg\")
.<\/p>\nThe Rough & Tumble is the folk-Americana duo of Mallory Graham and Scott Tyler. These days the pair consider themselves at home on the road, but in the Rough & Tumble’s bio, the nomadic pair say that they \u201cused to say they were from Nashville.\u201d And before that, Graham (who was born in Pennsylvania) and Tyler (originally from California) got their musical start in Black Mountain, N.C.<\/p>\n
Beginning in 2011, the duo recorded a string of EPs; the most recent is a 7-song collection, 2017’s Cardboard and Christmas Lights<\/i>. Recorded in Nashville, The Rough & Tumble’s first full-length album, We Made Ourselves a Home When We Didn’t Know<\/i> features nearly all new material; only one tune, \u201cTake Me With You,\u201d is recycled from last year’s EP. The album was released February 9.<\/p>\n
The duo’s sound is clean and straightforward, placing the vocals of Graham and\/or Tyler front and center in the mix. But The Rough & Tumble doesn’t shy away from studio techniques like vocal overdubbing; the disc’s opening cut, \u201cWildfire,\u201d features multiple tracks of Graham’s supple voice (with a subtle bit of Tyler mixed in) atop an instrumental backing that features little more than plucky banjo and what sounds like either accordion or harmonium, and bits of tinkling bells and bass drum. Those elements are all that are needed to create a sympathetic soundscape for the vocals.<\/p>\n
The more uptempo, countrified \u201cComplications\u201d employs a more pop-leaning arrangement, with bass guitar and a small (but full) drum kit providing solid rhythm section backing. Even when the pair’s lyrics take an occasional turn toward the melancholy, there’s a sunny sense of underlying happiness (or at least optimism) that leavens the vibe. And the voices of Graham and Tyler \u2013 both of which avoid the affected, mannered tone so prevalent in much of today’s Americana \u2013 combine seamlessly.<\/p>\n
The romantic \u201cBarney\u201d is a showcase for The Rough & Tumble’s favored sonic approach: the subtle instrumentation is both note-perfect and essential to the song, but it’s delivered in a manner than never competes with the singing. \u201cViroqua, WI\u201d is a road song; whether the story chronicled is true or not is wholly beside the point. The duo’s extensive travels have informed their songwriting. And once again, the pair’s strong vocal blend is supported by a crystalline arrangement.<\/p>\n
Taylor takes his first lead vocal on \u201cBaggage.\u201d His voice is every bit as pure and unaffected as is Graham’s. Taylor’s warm and friendly delivery conveys a sense of refreshing honesty, and the tune’s use of whistling is quite effective at setting a mood. \u201cTake Me With You\u201d is from an earlier recording session, but it still fits effortlessly into the context of the new album.<\/p>\n
\u201cAppalachia Greener\u201d makes use of ambient sounds to establish its feel. The song builds gradually, folding additional instruments into the mix, but the duo studiously avoids over-stuffing the tune. Judicious bits of electric guitar find their way into the the song’s second half. \u201cBetter for You\u201d dials the vibe down; it’s the closest The Rough & Tumble come to modern country (the good kind) on We Made Ourselves a Home<\/i>. The quiet bits when the instruments drop out \u2013 leaving only the two singers \u2013 are beautiful.<\/p>\n
\u201cSteel in My Blood\u201d is breezy pop-country with understated pedal steel deep in the mix. \u201cCohabitation Physics\u201d is a bit of romantic and lighthearted philosophy featuring a Taylor lead vocal. \u201cTiny Moses\u201d \u2013 the advance single from We Made Ourselves a Home<\/i> \u2013 is a gentle, melodic and brief entry point into the duo’s work. \u201cBobby & Joanne\u201d is a heartfelt duet that explores relationships in a clear-eyed, realistic (but ultimately hopeful) manner.<\/p>\n
The album closes with \u201cLet’s Get the Band Back Together,\u201d a tune that finds Graham and Taylor singing in unison, one an octave above the other. It’s as sunny and bright as anything on the album. The duo sings of rock ‘n’ roll (and then pauses for effect), and \u2013 surprise \u2013 does just that to wrap up the album. Even more surprisingly, doing so somehow doesn’t feel at all out of character with the other music on this understated and wonderful record.<\/p>\n
While on the road, Taylor and Graham find time to author a food blog, a literary blog, and well-stocked Instagram account. And they are already hard at work on a sophomore album, due in 2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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