Duo

Album review

Moving to Nashville has changed everything for these twins from Kentucky. Settling down in the country-music capital rarely leaves anyone unchanged. The Watson Twins have drawn a renewed creative energy from the city. With Duo, they’ve authored their sixth album which has an indie-folk vibe to it. It’s an album they composed and wrote together, on which they talk about their time spent on the road, their lost loves, but also their connection to music. With their intense harmonies they sing about a modern landscape shaped by past influences, imagine a sort contemporary film shot on a Super 8 camera. Rolling Thunder awakens Nashville’s music culture and Cry Baby perfectly fits the honky-tonks theme filled with steel guitars à la Bob Wills and different themes from George Jones. Chandra and Leigh Watson execute their deep harmonies with the utmost grace and their songwriting is filled with poetic inspiration. The twins are particularly gifted when it comes to duets. On The Cactus Blossoms, their two voices come together as one, and then unite with more masculine voices on Call To You, two sisters combining with two brothers. Duo is one of these “gateway” albums that allow a rediscovery of certain associated genres, such as country and folk music. The twins create this gateway with ease. © Clara Bismuth/Qobuz