Molina and Johnson - Molina and Johnson (From Salisbury Journal)

Molina and Johnson - Molina and Johnson

5:10pm Tuesday 3rd November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

Artist - Molina and Johnson
Album - Molina and Johnson
Label - Secretly Canadian

Jason Molina is a cult indie folk/blues singer known for his bands Magnolia Electric Co, and Songs Ohia; Will Johnson is the remarkable front man for Centro-matic and South San Gabriel, as well as a solo artist (and currently part of the Monsters of Folk).

This collaboration has been a long time in the making, and has been well worth the wait. The two singers complement each other perfectly – Johnson’s grittier voice blending with Molina’s higher plaintive vocals (and on one amazing piece, Sarah Jaffe duets with Johnson on a track that should be in the next Coen Brothers film).

The album feels like a Will Johnson album with additional beauty, added harmony, elevated poetry, which makes it just about perfect. This album defines what is best about Americana – the openness, the sense of space, relaxed reverie, landscape and travel. When Johnson says ‘our record was made in the late February sun’, that feels just so right.

This is a gorgeous expression of the art of acoustic music.

Rating 9/10
Mike Rea

• Print
• Email
• Share