Rod Coote + Bree Rusev - “Distant Place”

Photo by ALPHA SIERRA

As the majority of the northern hemisphere silently slips into a seasonal depression, Australia’s Rod Coote has teamed up with Bree Rusev to bring the world some summery vibes with “Distant Place.”

Pressing the play button will immediately carry you away on a gentle breeze of tenderly strummed acoustic guitar. And since both Coote and Rusev are no strangers to our blog, we must say that we have come to expect nothing less. Simply close your eyes as “Distant Place” enters your ears and you will be transported to a magical place, far away from your troubles, where only you, Coote, and Rusev exist.

Rusev takes the helm for the first verse, her vocal as soft and delicate as ever, completely devoid of any modern digital manipulation– all that rests between her voice and your ear is a microphone. The second half of the verse invites Coote to begin his delightful lyrical delivery, offering a wonderful juxtaposition to Rusev and a warmth that causes the track to feel like home– something many of us need with the holidays on the horizon.

And, of course, the reason we initially had to feature “Distant Place” is the culmination of both artists’ voices as they remarkably harmonize. As we’ve stated many times before, there is simply nothing like the way a track elevates upon the utilization of both male and female vocals. It is this aspect that will have us returning for multiple listens when the snow refuses to melt. The magic of their harmonization adds a rich coziness to the track and we want to bottle it up and take it everywhere we go, even on the colder days when that’s no further than the kitchen.

-HD