Charm of Finches

Posted on Nov 27, 2021 in Live Shows

Charm of Finches Album Launch

‘Wonderful Oblivion’ Album Launch Show

Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne 26 Nov 21

By Rob Dickens

There is beauty in youth, as the adage goes.

In the case of folk duo Charm Of Finches, you can add persistence, resilience and, of course, sheer talent.

Some things haven’t been falling into place for sisters Mabel and Ivy Windred-Wornes. Their previous album Your Company was released just before the pandemic hit so it couldn’t be showcased as they had intended. The follow up Wonderful Oblivion was launched tonight but the CDs did not arrive in time from the Czech Republic, nor had the vinyl copies been pressed.

That, however, did not detract from an evening of joy and heavenly harmonies and a full house, particularly poignant for a lockdown-ravaged music city such as Melbourne.

But it hasn’t been all bad news for the sisters, having just received a 2021 Australian Folk Music Award for Youth Artist Of The Year, a timely accolade and reminder of the bright future in store for the duo.

The launch tonight, which was a much-delayed live performance return for the pair, was a fitting celebration of the new self-funded record. The album opener “Concentrate On Breathing”, the ocean spray imagery of “Fish In The Sea” and the recorded-in-bed heart beat of “Treading Water” led the way. “Heavy” reflects the climate crisis and hesitancy in acting, the intricate sadness of “The Bridge”, the jealousy via a kitchen knife in “Miranda”, the false hope embedded in “Gravity” and the dreamy “As A Child” (official clip below) were all beautifully pitched.

The sisters were well augmented by cello, backing vocals, percussion and violin at various stages of the night but, come the end, with the deathly lullaby of the album’s title track and a slightly unprepared encore of “Fossil In The Stone”, it was just Mabel and Ivy and a guitar and those heavenly vocals.

That’s all they need.

Charm Of Finches have another local date, a virtual appearance at Folk Alliance International 2022 and then embark on an extensive UK tour.

ALL TOUR DATES HERE