Stephanie Dosen, by all accounts, grew up on a peacock farm in Wisconsin, writing songs for her two best friends - a swan and a fox. Yup, Hard-Fi this ain't. Heavy on the whimsy though it might be, 'This Joy' is a beguiling track, Dosen's soothing voice cradled among layers of finger-picked guitar, brush-played drums and subtly swelling strings, bolstered by breathy harmonies. Much like Candie Payne or even Emiliana Torrini, Dosen's music is more concerned with evoking a mood than being particularly hook-heavy. And this it does particularly well: perfect for a lazy summer evening or hungover Sunday morning alike.
Released 28/05/07 on Bella Union