The Rabbitts’ ‘Tall Pines & Tangled Vines’ Is A Transcendentalist Folk Journey

Nature meets dreamy folk

We all heard of musicians isolating themselves in nature to work on their music to break away from the chaos of civilization. From such approaches, musicians usually churn out Zen-inducing records that exude an out-of-body feel. UK duo, The Rabbits, is no exception. Comprised of Odhran Linsey and Lucy McKinlay, their latest EP Tall Pines & Tangled Vines was largely inspired by their stay in BC, Canada where they used the forests and mountains as the creative driving force of their work. The result is a serene EP that captures the warm isolation one finds inside nature.

The opener, “Twisted Pine,” is a quiet introduction to what the duo has in store. “These trees make me feel so young” chant the duo. The song is an ode to their surrounding flora where the duo solely relies on glimmering strings and harmonica to capture the surreal simplicity of their environment. In “Wild,” they take off with banjo strings that immediately set the listener into a laidback mood.

Taking advantage of their inspiration, The Rabbitts borrow samples from Mother Nature into their own music. “Swallows” starts off with guitar strings floating in the rustling sound of water flowing. Whether it is through their melody or lyrics, the duo construct imageries of specific parts of the wilderness that they witnessed. In “Brambles & Blackberries,” the duo shares their detailed observation of small things that we often overlook. “They grow so quick and remain so discreet” chants Odhran. By focusing on these small details, The Rabbitts remind the ever-changing aspect of nature that we also partake.

In “Luna Lupe” the two go on an almost spiritual journey where the mixture of banjo and guitar yield an upbeat, playful mood. “The wolf is howling my name.” The Rabbitts change the dynamic of their relationship with the wilderness by taking it to a spiritual level where they are not the ones who seek it, but Mother Nature also wants them with her.

While most of the EP leans towards acoustic and folk, the duo venture out to western-infused soundscape in “Bud Burrow Blues” where the croons and bouncy harmonica interlude catches us off guard. They further push their sonic boundaries with “Midnight Moon” where you can taste the subtle elements of psychedelia. It almost feels like an adult lullaby where the shimmering strings and moodiness capture the ethereal melancholia we often experience at night.

“Lonesome Tree” is probably the track that exudes the most amount of nostalgia and longing. It’s an ode to a tree, but metaphorically is an ode to their time at BC. “I remember you from the days of freedom” sing the two. Whether they miss the beauty, simplicity, or isolation is unclear. In “Tangerine Green” Odhran admits, “What I was searching for / Man, I don’t know.” But we know that this is not a treasure hunt – it is an appreciation of everything that nature is. The Rabbitts wrap up their record with “First Life” where they take us back to the very beginning of the cycle of life.

Tall Pines & Tangled Vines is a playful EP with moody undertones that flood you with picturesque lyrics. Released back in June 30^th, it is the byproduct of the duo’s time in Canada and their hustling. In order to save up for the album, they had to live in a van over the winter, WINTER. Canadian winter.

Make sure follow their shenanigans on Instagram and see them in person:

8/24 – Lady Of The Lake Shop Café (Brandon, MB, Canada)

8/26 – Ship & Plough (Gimli, MB, Canada)

9/4 – Bar Robo (Ottawa, ON, Canada)

9/5 – L’Escalier Montréal (Montreal, QC, Canada)

9/9 – Musikki Café (Kingston, ON, Canada)

9/11 – The Local Pub (Toronto, ON, Canada)