MP3: Joe Ferraro & Dan Stevens – “Rooftop”
MP3: Joe Ferraro & Dan Stevens – “Call My Name”
Joe Ferraro & Dan Stevens craft an impressive sound led by lively acoustics and stirring violins. The opening instrumental, “Rooftop”, on their new album Simple Things is a nice representation of the duo’s knack for fluid melodies and colorful arrangements, led by the fervor of Stevens’ excellent violin playing. Certain string transitions, like the somber shift at 0:44, help make the effort consuming. The seven tracks on their new release, Simple Things, showcase a variety of approaches, ranging from the feel-good acoustic flutters of “Blue Skies” to the ambitious “Call Me”, which transitions from folky melodies to an intense hip-hop/spoken word hybrid (complements of producer Joe Burley). Slickly melodic guitar strums and violins lead, as usual. Speaking of the latter, the final 30 seconds of “Time” presents an outstanding solo that builds in intensity; it is arguably the best example of Stevens’ virtuosity as a violinist. There’s plenty to love about Simple Things, and this Easton, Pennsylvania-based duo. Stream their entire album below:
