Since this folk-pop duo's two members reside far from each other—Helen Austin lives on Vancouver Island in British Columbia; Paul Otten is in the Ohio Valley—they crafted this 12-song album via the Internet. Each worked in their home studio and shared tracks, harmonizing together as if sitting next to one another. Compared to Mumford & Sons, Of Monsters and Men, and Lumineers, Big Little Lions are notable for their catchy songwriting that rarely dwells in the somber range of many 21st-century musicians. “This Road with You,” “Fire Me Up,” and “Every Time” provide variety while sticking to acoustic instruments, with effective punctuations of harmonica among the strings.
- Gabrielle Papillon
- Fast Romantics
- Tim Moxam
- Joe Nolan