North Carolina duo Chatham Rabbits bring new sounds and soul-searching maturity to their latest release.
Austin and Sarah McCombie of the North Carolina duo Chatham Rabbits have released three albums of relaxed, old-timey bluegrass-infused music that has attracted an enthusiastic fan community since 2019. The title of their fourth album, ‘Be Real with Me,’ explicitly references the record’s sense of honest unease brought about by newfound maturity in dealing with the challenges of marriage, regret, and mortality. They also expand upon the sound of their previous work. Subtle electronics bring modern, dark shadings to some of the ten songs’ soundscapes, while a lonesome pedal steel introduces a new organic aural element to others.
This change in tone is readily apparent in the beautifully reflective ‘Did I Really Know Him?.’ Ethereal synth washes blanket Austin McCombie’s lyrical self-examination, a unique effect that brings a warmth that resembles both strings and vocal harmonies. An excited drum machine rattle, electric guitar solo, and swirling keyboard effects push the restless ‘Gas Money’ into breezy anthem territory. Banjo and steel guitar deftly spar throughout ‘Facing 29,’ about coming to terms with “the last year of our youth,” and the fiddle-driven ‘Collateral Damage’ addresses the dichotomy of wanting to hold on to youthful freedom versus the desire to start a family. ‘Pool Shark’s Table’ strips things down by relying solely on acoustic guitars to back evocative, soaring McCombie vocals. Equally beguiling is the yearning, laidback guitar, banjo, and bass instrumental ‘Big Fish, Small Pond,’ which recalls similar non-vocal compositions by Bruce Cockburn.
‘Be Real with Me’ represents a remarkable step forward in the Chatham Rabbits’ musical development. The McCombies’ original rootsy sound may not be quite as apparent, but as the album’s bold new directions show, the couple is willing and able to take some rewarding risks. Here’s hoping this trend foreshadows more exciting musical adventures from them in the future.
