Having played music together since childhood, Allison and Catherine Pierce have developed a style that it a long way from your average singer-songwriter stuff that can be swept under the rug and forgotten about. In fact, with their UK debut, they put their counterparts over here to shame by proving that dullness is not a requirement if you write your songs on an acoustic guitar.

The album begins as it means to go on, with the sisters threatening to kill each other to stop secrets getting out (Secret) before they ascribe boredom to everything from Paris to childbirth (Boring). As the title suggests, the subject matter generally cooed sweetly or delivered with violent undertones. But nothing is ever said in anger, in fact, the darker songs are generally the more upbeat ones.

Oh, but I haven’t even talked about the music. I spoke of singer-songwriters and acoustic guitars earlier and it probably gave you the wrong impression. Thirteen Tales… probably was all written with acoustic guitars and probably sound amazing when stripped back to just this single instrument and the two beautifully harmonising vocals. I wouldn’t know, though, because the recorded versions have been layered up, had many various instruments placed on them and taken off into different styles, from waltz, to 60’s pop, to country, to swing.

This is one new album you simply have to hear this year. Buy yourself a copy and hold it close to your heart.

Label: Lizard King
Website: www.thepiercesmusic.com
Release date: 2nd April 2007

Tracklist:

1. Secret
2. Boring
3. Sticks And Stones
4. Lights On
5. Lies
6. Turn On Billie
7. Ruin
8. Three Wishes
9. The Power Of…
10. Kill! Kill! Kill!
11. It Was You
12. Boy In A Rock And Roll Band
13. Go To Heaven