Blue Hawaii
“Try to Be”
Untogether (out 3/5 on Artbus Records) B
BRAIDS frontwoman, Raph Standell-Preston, has always had the kind of voice that’s hard to shake. On “Try to Be,” we get to hear that voice front and center, as the duo deftly frames her nostalgic coo with gentle acoustic guitar and airy percussion. Blue Hawaii is the perfect name for her collaboration with fellow Canadian Alexander Cowan, as the group crafts beautiful, transformative soundscapes (the “Hawaii” part) that have just a sprinkle of melancholy (the “blue” part). If this contemplative number is any indication, expect Untogether to be a touching, evocative statement.
