Folk/Review Andrews Massey Duo - from the roots...new branches

Emily Andrews (flutes, voice) and David Massey (guitars) met in 2009 at the Royal Academy of Music while playing in the orchestra for a musical. They have played together ever since, alongside their solo careers. Emily and David are expanding the boundaries of flute and guitar duo playing. Not ones to be pigeonholed, their live performances range from classical recitals (Schubert, Mozart, Bach, Dvorak, Elgar, Takemitsu, etc.) to their arrangements of British folk music, using loop pedals to overdub harmony parts and layer guitars.

With “from the roots…new branches,” the Andrews Massey Duo provide a quietly profound and highly complex examination of British Isles folk music, reinvented through the prism of intuitive musicianship and deep cultural connection. This instrumental album is both reverent and startlingly inventive, weaving together flutes, penny whistles, guitar, and banjo into a soundscape that feels at once ancient and newly blooming.

The duo lets each composition develop naturally, influenced by memory, improvisation, and emotional resonance, as opposed to following strict arrangements or sheet music. The album has a living, breathing quality because of this technique; each track captures brief moments of beauty and musical conversation as if it were happening in real time. Through delicate phrasing and subtle dynamic shifts, well-known songs like "Skye Boat Song" are tenderly recreated, and lesser-known gems are highlighted.

The care and artistry extend beyond the song itself. The accompanying album booklet, illustrated by Cassy Oliphant and thoughtfully designed by I Wei Huang, offers rich historical context and visual charm that enhances the listening experience. The incorporation of an interactive, online version further links tradition and contemporary.

“from the roots…new branches” is a celebration of folk history interpreted through unique craftsmanship and intuitive partnership. It’s not just an album—it’s a beautifully selected trip through time, culture, and sound. This release, which is ideal for introspection or engrossing listening, solidifies the Andrews Massey Duo's position as important voices in modern folk.