Widowspeak

Widowspeak are an NYC-based three-piece consisting of singer Molly Hamilton, drummer Michael Stasiak and Robert Earl Thomas on guitar. Widowspeak is their debut album, following single "Harsh Realm," also released on Brooklyn's Captured Tracks, who signed Widowspeak on the strength of a six-track cassette and just a couple of shows. Hamilton's exquisitely sensual, breathy vocals evoke strong comparisons to Elysian Fields singer Jennifer Charles, with an added touch of Chan Marshall. Opening track "Puritan" begins somewhat misleadingly, with a Joy Division-esque guitar part, but opens out into a country-tinged track that's more evocative of the Modern Lovers. Elsewhere, there are hints of blues-based femme fatales such as PJ Harvey and Cat Power. The album is gorgeously paced, with a raw energy and is just damn sexy. This is a great debut from a label that's on fire as of late.