A duo of adept multi-instrumentalists with stunning vocal harmonies and original tunes that provide a heart-warming showcase for their talents – that's the full package that is Rumour Mill.
Humboldt and area’s music loving community were treated to a special stop on their Saskatchewan tour on Sunday night.
The pair of Aline Deanna and Anna Katarina hail from Nelson, BC and are crisscrossing the country in support of their debut album, “What She Said.” The songs work in a mix of country-pop, folk, R&B, California surf – a wide range of interests from the musically diverse “soul-sisters.” The openers, “Sunrise” and “Whiskey” gave the audience a taste of their song-writing skills and their fluid interchange of lead vocals and their tight and multi-octave harmonies.
The fiddle, courtesy of Aline, brought a bright spirited country and Celtic sound, and it often provided a seemingly orchestral touch to some of the arrangements. Songs like “Tanlines,” a seeming contrast to the cold winter background, and “Don’t Cry in My Wine,” a playful effort to consciously incorporate country music drinking cliches, show off the duo’s playful side.
The evening’s music was punctuated by lighthearted and genuine “kitchen table” banter with references to new friends made in Humboldt and quirky encounters in towns like Biggar, one of their tour stops. During these exchanges, the musicians, back by solid drumming and bass, swapped instruments moving effortlessly from violin to electric guitar to keyboard.
Original tunes like “Roadrunner” speak of a longing for home environments from the middle of a physical and emotional desert. “Slow Down,” a tune written by Anne in an effort to combat the anxiety and uncertainty brought by the pandemic, shows the pair’s ability to plumb the depths of their emotional experience for musical gold.
Throughout the evening, the band performed songs of love and loss, triumph and struggle, all while running a range of musical styles with lighthearted and playful moods interspersed with wistful and plaintive overtones. Perhaps the most revealing part of the evening was when the two performed as a duo where the intricate harmonies and the remarkable blend of their vocals truly shone.
Another triumph was a cover of Joni Mitchell’s spacy and new age “Come in From the Cold.” The song’s vocals and airy instrumentation would provide any performer a challenge, but the use of violin and the haunting rise and fall of pitch, a hallmark of Mitchell’s performing style, were interpreted remarkably. Individually the women are vocal powerhouses; together they transcend.
Anna and Aline wrapped up the evening with a trio of covers as part of their encore. The ‘70s Stealers Wheel classic “Stuck in the Middle” brought an exuberant audience clap along. Roy Orbison’s Blue Bayou brought back memories of Linda Ronstadt’s version, and the evening was capped off with the touching and appropriate “Song for a Winter’s Night.”
Rumour Mill brought a charm and a true musical talent to the stage at the Community Gathering Centre, along with another revelation about the depth of independent music in Canada.
Find out more on their website, rumourmill.ca.