Folk/Review Dark and Twisties - Ungrateful Women
From Swansea, Dark and Twisties weave stories old and new into strange and beautiful songs with glorious harmonies and skillful musicianship. The band features Sarah Birch (vocals, keys), Kate Ronconi (vocals, fiddle), Sarah Passmore (vocals, guitar), Danny KilBride (vocals, bass), and Huw Rees (drums).
Dark and Twisties’ debut album “Ungrateful Women” is an evocative and richly textured introduction to a band that feels both timeless and strikingly contemporary. Recorded in 2024 at Mwnci Studios, the album captures the group’s ethereal storytelling and masterful vocal harmonies, weaving traditional folk roots into a soundscape shaped by modern, atmospheric sensibilities. The result is music that lingers like a half-remembered dream—haunting, intimate, and quietly powerful.
Across the album, Dark and Twisties excel at creating mood. Their arrangements are spacious yet emotionally dense, allowing melodies to unfold slowly while drawing the listener deeper into each story. Vocal interplay is at the heart of the record, with layered harmonies that feel almost ritualistic in their delivery. There is a strong sense of shared voice and purpose, reflecting the collective identity of the band rather than any single focal point.
Instrumentation is handled with restraint and intention. Fiddle lines drift and coil around gentle keys and acoustic guitar, while bass and drums provide a subtle grounding that keeps the songs anchored without diminishing their ethereal quality. This balance between earthiness and atmosphere gives “Ungrateful Women” its distinctive character—rooted in folk tradition, yet unafraid to explore darker, more experimental textures.
The album’s themes and tone feel nostalgic without becoming retrospective, drawing from the past while speaking clearly to the present. Dark and Twisties offer a sound that resonates with fans of eerie, transcendent folk, but also invites new listeners searching for music that values story, harmony, and emotional depth. “Ungrateful Women” stands as a confident and compelling debut album, marking the arrival of a band with a uniquely immersive voice.