The Lost Trades – Keep My Feet Dry (2022)
With their sixth single release ‘Keep My Feet Dry’, The Lost Trades offer us a taste of what is to come in their anticipated second album. Moving on from the retro vibe of their last release, the band hits a more contemporary folk stride with this track. Adding a touch of pop to the folk sounds, they weave a super catchy, modern yet timeless, sound through our ears.
Brought together by their love of modern folk and roots music, Jamie R Hawkins, Phil Cooper and Tamsin Quin have been making music together since late 2019. Using fantastic vocal harmonies, the lovingly crafted tracks move from light percussion to soaring vocal heights. After their debut tour was cut short by the pandemic, they hit the studio to condense their emotions into their debut album which spent months in the Top 40 Official Folk Album Charts.
‘Keep My Feet Dry’ has a rich opening that ripples out into the soundscape through the movement of the guitars. There is a steady movement to the opening of the melody that hits some traditional folk tones, but carries a heavier wash of contemporary tones. The depth of the melody is really stunning and seems to relax your muscles. This relaxation allows the vocals to wash over you and twine their way into your soul. After the first refrain of the chorus, the melody gains an extra edge. The rippling watery sound is lost slightly to bring the scent of wet earth to your senses, like the smell of the world after a sudden downpour. It is a really stunning melody that moves through a few different changes to bring the emotions of the track to life. Later in the track there is a bridge that is tender and stunning to hear, breaking the emotions of the single to swing with the message of the vocals.
As you feel the rippling depths of the melody overtake your senses, the harmonised vocals settle on your skin like the weight of humidity before a storm. While the vocals are beautifully harmonised, Quin’s performance seems to drive the higher levels as she reaches out a hand and tugs at your emotions. The vocal performance is absolutely beautiful as it curls around the poetic imagery of the lyrics. There is a delightful blend of realism and abstraction in the lyrics that bring the physical and emotional toll of the story of the single to life. The band has achieved a wonderfully timeless sound that still carries a hint of modernity through the melody. It is truly a stunning single that you can easily listen to again and again.
With a ripple of sound, The Lost Trades gets you instantly hooked to the stunning tones of ‘Keep My Feet Dry’, making you want to listen to it on repeat. The melody has a deep richness that you sink into from the first guitar tone. Using harmonised vocals, the band draws you into the poetry of their lyrics and the well of emotion resting within.
Find out more about The Lost Trades on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
