Folk meets ethereal rock in "Fortune," the latest composition by Baltimore duo Wye Oak. The new song showcases Wye Oak's first-class ability to create a rich soundscape highlighted by the graceful vocals of Jenn Wasner, which float in verses among the melodic blend of acoustic and electric guitar strings, strings that rip as the eclectic synthesizer embellishments engulf the choruses. From the fine snaps of the snare to the ascending intensity of the energy the song yields, all that can be heard and felt is in unison, and that is what makes this duo so appealing.
What is perhaps most impressive about the duo is that both Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack travel quite often and are not always both in their home state of Maryland, meaning that a lot of the music is composed through the passing of ideas remotely. One could say that this latest single, the duo's first release since their 2018 album The Louder I Call, The Faster It Runs, is a product of artists' ever-evident modern approach to music composition (meaning long-distance ideas in flux).
The duo is currently on tour, so the promise of more music on the way is there. Through most of the winter, Wye Oak will be hitting cities like Philadelphia, PA, and San Francisco, CA. "Fortune" is an excellent preview of things to come; with its clear experimental tinge it captivates wholly. Whatever the duo's formula is for creating their unique brand of modern folk, it is working quite well, no doubt.
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