Dave McGraw & Mandy Fer

Seed of a Pine is the first collaboration between Flagstaff, AZ residents Dave McGraw and Mandy Fer. The album is coloured with warm acoustic guitar, piano and fiddle. The way the duo meld their voices makes them easy targets – you could peg them an American version of the Swell Season. Musically, the duo have a knack for shifting their tone in unexpected places. Quiet acoustic songs will morph into a slow-burning, jazzy torch number ("Once Was"), while sweet love songs will suddenly gain a sense of urgency, as in the title track. Lyrically, the album is painted with images of the American Southwest. There isn't a sonically unpleasant moment, but that means McGraw and Fer don't take many musical gambles either. Thus, Seed of a Pine won't offend you, but it won't blow your mind either.