Indie Music Album Reviews

rabbit and the hare

7/18/2013

Rabbit and the Hare

Rabbit and the Hare
self-released; 2013

4.3 out of 5

By Eva Cantillo

So what’s the deal with Rabbit & the Hare? Well this duo is not your typical watered down fairy tale, these two artists came together on faith, and together, construct a soothing yet upbeat collection of songs for their first self-titled album Rabbit & the Hare.

The band is comprised of a multi-instrumentalist vocalist from California, and a musician from New York. The Rabbit, Marisa Duchowny answered Neill MacCallum’s (the Hare) ad on Craigslist and ever since then the duo has been cranking out songs based around their natural musical chemistry. One of their catchy songs, “Then I see her,” is about how a lover can simple brighten up your day. The chorus is rhythmically pleasing and actually induces the feeling of elation and contentment that is being described by the song. This song is a bit upbeat compared to many of the other tracks on the album. “Fragile Things” is a beautiful folky song that lures the listener to forget all their worries. “Isabel” is somewhat of a slow anthem-like song, where the chorus is very triumphant and the voice of the Rabbit brings both high notes and high hopes. Both of the musicians can be heard harmonizing in the song “Magic Magic,” which has a gentle and hypnotizing appeal. You can really feel the chemistry between both of these talented musicians.

The two musicians use a variety of sounds and instruments throughout the album. Synths, percussions and even cello and violin tones can be heard on various songs. Despite the depth and variation, there is a beautiful simplicity behind the songs Rabbit & the Hare produce. Each song is very light and refreshing, the vibe can be compared to lounge or ambient music, yet it can still be classified as folk alternative music, or even a type of jazz-fusion. Some Spanish lyrics are sprinkled into the song “Behind your eyes,” a song that is just the track for a poolside relaxation session. Continuing on, the track “Dona Dona” is a real head-banger, reminiscent of a White Stripes song with heavy vocals and guitar riffs.

Rabbit & the Hare is a well-produced album that embodies the pure simplicity of good listening music. The album explores several topics and sensations while maintaining a gentle composition. The vocals of both band members are calming with a certain depth to them.