Divine in composition and execution is the delicate and peaceful music of Hartford’s Bandshes. The Americana trio released last month their latest record titled Small Talk; listeners will find within the album one beautifully composed tune after the next. Take the title track as a shining example of the way lead singer Zoe Chatfield commands the piano-driven song’s mighty sentiment while being backed by the vocals of bandmates Athena Demaille Von Schmidt and Emily Gregonis, creating rich harmonies to spare. While "Small Talk" is fierce, other tracks like "Dreamers" are both melancholic and hopeful, lingering with their piano melodies in the minds of listeners. Intentional or not, the lo-fi feel of the recordings, or perhaps the rusticity of production, makes each track the more powerful and elegant. The group is set to play a hometown show at the Hanging Hills Brewery on November 10th. Stream the silvery track "Surrounded" from the new record below, and start your weekend right. – Rene Cobar
