Los Angeles-based Miner is on the rise. Growing from a home studio Kickstarter project, the contemporary folk band started as husband-wife duo Justin and Kate Miner in 2012 and expanded to include Jeremy Miner and three other close friends. Since then, the band has been steadily building their support base throughout the West Coast, riding the swell of popular interest in indie folk music. Their debut album, Into the Morning, is due Feb. 25. Into the Morning begins with a sense of awakening in opening song โDawn,โ where layered harmonies and limited instrumentals resemble a traditional folk style a la Fleet Foxes. The album as a whole relates to love found and love lost and the difficulty of moving on; these themes are exemplified in the lyrics of the album’s two singles, โHey Loveโ and โCarousel.โย From Into the Morning‘s start to end, a listener can trace the emotional progression of a relationship. Recurring contrasts between light and dark also give the album fluidity. Brighter songs, like โGolden Oceanโ and โHey Loveโ boast captivating verses filled with banjo, mandolin, and guitar accompaniment. “Hey Love,” in particular, build to huge choruses that call out, โHold up your hands if you hear me / Iโm coming honey, hold on, hold on / Lift up the sun with your love / Iโve been laying low for so long, so long.” Others, like โBig Surโ and โLovely,โ evoke the idealism of young love and advocate a return to the simple truth and beauty of nature. Their infectious banjo melodies are mirrored by the lyrical cadence, and vocal trade-offs between Justin and Kate mime banter similar to that in Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zerosโ โHome.โ Both of these tracks, as well as the aforementioned โDawn,โ draw on the roots of folk music and counterbalance darker, more complex songs such as โHeaven Knows and โCoal Mineโ with brighter, organic overtones. Another more contemplative song, โCome What Come May,โ starts powerfully and rounds out the albumโs overlying theme with a strong narrative. The song tells the story of a humble man trying to prove his worth to his love, urging her to remain conscious. โIf youโre sailing with your head turned back,” sings the band, “Youโll never see my lonely lighthouse guide your way.โ It’s a thoughtful note on which to begin to close the album. Bird sounds, and simple guitar also carry lyrics that speak of โhiding from the end but itโs already begun,โ and pleas to โtake my soiled name and return it to the sea.โ As the cello of “Come What Come May” fades, the message of letting go is backed by a powerful hope that there will be healing down the road in the โGolden Age,โ the album’s finale. While certain elements of this album can be related to the works of other successful groups of the indie folk genre, Miner has achieved a completely original sound in their debut album. Catchy singles and a highly-developed, fluid album speaks wonders to the bandโs creative engine and proves that there is endless room for exploration and ingenuity in contemporary folk music. Fitting with the message of Into the Morning, it is safe to assume that big things await Miner as they plunge into the dawn of their career. Article by Conner Smith Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Δ