Smoke Fairies - Carried In Sound (2023) [Hi-Res]

Following on from the release of their highly-praised 2020 LP Darkness Brings Wonders Home, which was applauded by the likes of Mojo, Clash Magazine, Q and many more, alt-folk duo Smoke Fairies return once again to release their sixth studio album Carried In Sound. Continuing to pursue more of that warm and ethereal aesthetic the pair have cultivated since their earliest beginnings, lead cut “Vanishing Line” makes for a wonderfully warm and emotive introduction to their next full-length release.

A sense of inner strength dominates the new record. In keeping with the times that bore it, ‘Carried In Sound’ isn’t afraid to discuss darkness – but everywhere there is a longing for light. “Although the album has themes of sadness on there, it’s looking at those things from a place of strength,” says Jessica.

On Carried In Sound the duo prove themselves to be utterly self-reliant, moving through a pandemic, home recording, and true independence to forge something completely faithful to their ambitions. Recorded in a terrace house with the volume dialled down to protect the neighbours, the results have a curiously intimate, hushed appeal. A record that feels remarkably self-contained, ‘Carried In Sound’ is truly special, marked by audio invention, and a desire to speak nothing but the truth. A break from their former work, the album carries a very unique form of magic.