When one third of a band leaves and the band retains the name, it’s always a fair question to ask; “is it still the same band?” The Little Stevies who have been around since 2009, consist now of sisters Beth and Sibyalla, with Robin Geradts-Gill leaving to pursue a career in film. The band’s third outing and first without Geradts-Gill is a far more serious and sombre affair, but still recognisably The Little Stevies, so fair enough keeping the name.
The seriousness of the recording really comes from the chosen content and gentle delivery of the songs. Motherhood is celebrated softly on titular track Diamonds for Your Tea and the loneliness of single life bemoaned on I Hold My Breath through its quaint piano. There is more life on tracks like Heavy Words with its railroad folk roll and Amigo; it’s Mexican influence coming through handclaps and some south of the border guitar.
If Geradts-Gill’s absence is felt anywhere in particular it’s through the lack of more upbeat tracks; plus his vocals on previous albums gave greater diversity of sound and helped provide a few more ebbs for those recordings. However the sisters certainly shine without him on several tracks. Shattered Dreams opens with lonely vocals over drawn out organ and tells a moving (and albeit depressing) story about life slipping away, “found a man who liked to drink/ his punch made me shrink”. Oh, Honey is sweet and melancholic; the far-away big room delay on the guitar and percussion brilliant. There’s something a bit Crowded House about Thunder, and Canadia (Take Me) is relatable and easy to take in.
Several of the tracks that remain though are unfortunately a little underwhelming, Easily Swayed and Loving Man in particular fail to capture. Generally speaking the sisters vocals sound greater when in unison as the intonation of their individual voices in places is too clean and makes these musicians in their mid-twenties sound a little too adult-contemporary at times.
BY GARRY WESTMORE
Best Track: Shattered Dreams
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Tinpan Orange
In A Word: Sombre
