We’ve reviewed both of Peach and Quiet’s first two albums, tracing a trajectory from country rock and Americana on the debut through to a slightly rockier harder-edged sophomore effort in ‘Beautiful Thing’. Jonny Miller is one half of the duo partner Heather Read and he’s shared some of his favourite players who may not be too well known in the UK as well as a thank you to the people who make the noise in support of their beliefs.
Sage McBride –
Co-leader of everyone’s (in Canada at least!) favourite party band, Shred Kelly, and world class grant writer, who helped us get over many music industry challenges in 2023, and even showed up with her family when we were playing in her home town. What a rock star, thank you!
Shred Kelly –
A super fun, and majorly groovy, band who have also become friends of ours, for coming back to Pender Island (with original hipster icons Elliot Brood) to regale us all with their super shaking songs, and also for staying at our humble abode, sharing road stories, and good food.
Clark Becker –
Drummer extraordinaire, and true friend, who came and stayed with us for a week and graced us with his amazing rhythm skills, allowing us to take flight (in our living room) and sound more like our recordings. What a treat. We love you brother!
Ira Smolkin –
Guitar picker, singer of songs, and friend to many, who sadly left us all on Nov. 23rd, 2023. We give thanks for having him in our lives, briefly as it was. Safe travels to the home of love, see you on the flip side.
Anyone and everyone who stood up for the environment, peace, and the truth –
Keep up the good work, we need you now more than ever!
Two years after their debut ‘Just Beyond the Shine’, Peach & Quiet are back with another bunch of great songs aided and abetted by producer and guitarist extraordinaire Steve Dawson. The album continues where the debut left off with some gorgeous Americana/country rock/blues stylings with a few influences creeping in from the background of the duo Jonny Miller and Heather Reed. Our review of their debut referenced the usual Laurel Canyon influences but ‘Beautiful Thing’ pulls in some slightly rockier influences like seventies Fleetwood Mac (or particularly Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks) and a lot of that’s down to Steve Dawson’s production and playing with layers of guitars from resonators through electrics to pedal steel.
The gentle title track sets the tone for the album; its country feel with those guitar layers, lovely harmonies and Jonny Miller’s slightly raspy vocal are things that you hear in varying degrees throughout the album. As an added bonus (for me, anyway), the song opens with one of my favourite chord progressions, falling from the tonic to the subdominant. Want to know why I like this progression? It features in two of my favourite songs, ‘These Days’ by Jackson Browne and Graham Parker’s ’Watch the Moon Come Down’. And honestly, speaking as a mediocre guitarist, it’s easy to play and sounds good.
With a title ‘Horse and Saddle’ you’d be expecting a country arrangement; that would be too predictable. Jonny’s dad is a reggae DJ and he was brought up around reggae musicians, so the influence was always going to come out somewhere. Heather’s dad was a Hammond player and Hammond’s very much in evidence on the slow blues of ‘This Time’, the rock vibe of ‘Behind the Sun’ with a nod in the direction of Crazy Horse and ‘Pockets Empty’, the story of a relationship with a charismatic psychopath.
At a time when temperatures are heading below zero again, ‘Beautiful Thing’ brings a welcome splash of California sunshine with its infectious melodies, exquisite harmonies and perfect arrangements, balancing multiple guitar parts with piano and Hammond to create perfect settings for Jonny and Heather’s solo and duet vocals. Summer feels a long way away at the moment, but this album brings it a bit closer.
‘Beautiful Thing’ is released on Peach & Quiet Music (P&QCD002) on 20th January 2023.
Here’s a live video of ‘This Time’:
