Fox and Bones - Long Time Honey (2024) Hi-Res

A smart melody line, distinctive vocals & perfect morning listening. So, “All On Red,” gets off to a wonderful start & by track 2 it’s like Scotland’s The Blue Nile had added a female vocalist to the repertoire because singer Scott Gilmore sounds quite engaging as The Blue Nile vocalist on Fox and Bones’ “House By The River.” Beautiful stuff. A little rockier than Blue Nile material & that’s where the temperature rises.

Sarah Vitort, his partner in crime, has a radiating vocal that along with Scott is the necessary current in this wire. The tunes are lively & resonate with varied styles & everything is presented in an array of creamy pastries & not dry cookies. It’s a pleasure to listen to how this duo constructs their melodic recipes. “Digital Wasteland,” is a little novelty-oriented in the title but don’t let that fool you. The song kicks ass both musically & vocally. The song is far better than the silly video.

The title track “Long Time Honey,” is pleasant with its thudding folky attack that sounds like Richard & Mimi Farina (from the 60s) backed by an aggressive punk aggregation. Nice idea. The song shines a spotlight on Sarah & her vocals are always potent, saturated with confidence & always satisfying.

The exceptional Portland, Oregon duo isn’t producing anything that new. But theirs is a showcase that’s always consistently attractive & well-produced. Their voices work well alone or together. They have ideas that inhabit their performance. They’re not coming across like Richard & Linda Thompson, or Clive Gregson & Christine Collister but they evoke a melodic mature & tasteful set of songs that keep the interest level high through each new track. Even the melancholy level is on a low flame. Everything here is buoyant.

The duo isn’t locked into always presenting their work in a folky ideal – “Tricks” is just an indulgent rock-oriented piece with Sarah’s silky voice running alongside Scott’s raw accentuating J.J. Cale/Jon Dee Graham-type tonality. Works well.

Their musical map follows the formidable undertaking of “Constellations,” — arranged with excitement. This duo’s focus is far more embedded in the singular vocal experience than any instrumental passage.

Their voices lasso the ear, not the lead guitar, drums, or bass. Their melodically driven voices…it’s all in their voices. And isn’t that an instrument too?