Cut it Down, Count the Rings

Copper Viper's PR describes them as ‘an acoustic folk group from London,’ which isn't wrong but you could certainly be forgiven for imagining that guitarist Robin Joel Sangster and fiddle and mandolin player Duncan Menzies actually hail from some deep, dark American hollow. Based on a shared love of harmony singing duos such as Gillian Welch & David Rawlings and The Milk Carton Kids, the pair got together in 2016 after following separate musical paths for a while and quickly realised that they made a productive songwriting partnership as well as a convincing harmony duo. Having amassed a healthy catalogue of original material and honed their live set at folk venues around the UK and Europe, they upped sticks to Woodinvale in Washington, US, to work with platinum-selling producer Ryan Hadlock (The Lumineers, Brandi Carlile) at the historic Bear Creek Studio on these original songs, a couple of which have already caused a bit of a stir as singles within the UK's burgeoning Americana community.

Comprised of 11 originals, the album explores a range of lyrical themes, mixing hope, regret, joy and melancholy while maintaining a sufficient degree of enigma and ambiguity to allow the listener space to form their own unique interpretations. Musically, the record draws inspiration from across the broad spectrum of British folk, American country and bluegrass, combining haunting melodies and intricate vocal harmonies with searing instrumental passages to create a stylistic blend that is at once familiar and unique.