River & Rail - “Leave a Ghost”

Nashville, Tennessee-based folk/ Americana duo Grace and Alex Fincher, aka River & Rail, have just released “Leave a Ghost” in the midst of their fall tour.

This one begins with a great deal of cinematic space, spanning from the tender strums of an acoustic guitar, to the soft and airy, layered backing vocals, all the way to the breezy notes from a violin. And upon the moment you first press play on “Leave a Ghost,” you will find yourself within an indie folk utopia.

We knew that we had to feature the track once Grace’s vocal began. There’s a warm familiarity here that causes us to recall the fantastic sounds of Watchhouse, Phoebe Bridgers, and Julien Baker– her tone is very modern, but completely raw and emotive, leaving a sense of timelessness embedded deeply within the heart of the song.

There is a bit of synth riding along in the background, but just enough to provide some ambience, as each and every element sounds as though it was picked straight from the tree. There is no autotune or any other digital shenanigans at play here, just the glorious sound of actual human beings making honest music.

Patience will grant you access to some sweet vocal harmonies on the final third, and once you find out that this was written for a loved one who’s passed on, it will properly kick you in the feels. That said, “Leave a Ghost” is a wonderful tribute and we are grateful that River & Rail have shared it with the world.

-HD