Fashionable is not a word you would associate with the Indigo Girls. Amy Ray and Emily Saliers are a US folk based duo who have been releasing records and touring incessantly for over a decade now. Hardly heard of in the UK beyond their cultish fans the Girls have a steady US fanbase, attracting all ages and social backgrounds.
The duo first found success way back in the late 1980's with the single 'Closer To Fine' which pushed their eponymous major label debut to platinum status.
They specialise in popular folk-infused songwriting; traditional song arrangements with acoustic and vocal interplay while steering clear of cliched harmonies. Think of Tracy Chapman sitting around a camp fire or Sheryl Crow with a trace of artistic integrity and you're somewhere close to their natural domain.
Hardcore fans will be delighted to discover that 'Become You' ditches the distortion pedals prevalent on last album, 1999's 'Come On Social', and marks a return to warm homespun acoustica. That's not to say the girls are afraid of a little hoedown now and then. The thigh-slapping up-tempo 'Yield' along with the blusey harmonica-driven 'Bitter Root' keep things interesting. Elsewhere though it's their regular fare. The mandolin pop of the title track and the soul-tinged opener 'Moment Of Forgiveness' are perfect examples of why the Girls remain country rock favourites.
