One word to sum up Piefinger? The best I can do is 'sultry'. A whole host of other words spring to mind when I take these two EPs out for their regular spin - words like brooding, melodic, yearning, Simon and er, Garfunkel... But as ever, words are seldom sufficient to convey a musical mood, and trust me, this band are a moody bunch - you can tell that much just from their photos.

The male/female frontpeople Glynne Steele and Jana Carpenter make up the main character of Piefinger, their vocal harmony and counterpoint often scraping the genius of the Indigo Girls' inspired interplays. Joined by Rachel Steadman on violin and David Sherwood on bass, the band have been pulling large and excitable crowds to their London shows over the past couple of years.

'Here Inside The Night' kicks off with 'Plans', harbouring the kind of poetry that only fully reveals itself after a closer look at the lyric book. Couple this with the band's trademark slow-build/crescendo/aftershock arrangement and this is an epic statement of intent. 'Keep Breathing' follows and highlights the Indigo Girls influence in particular, until the pumping violin motif reminds you that Piefinger is more than just a souped-up duo. Steadman's classical-inspired lines are a central thread binding together the vocals and guitar, as is the fluid bass work from Sherwood, who also pitches in vocal harmonies throughout.

'Feels Like Home' introduces the second EP 'Time Alone'. The band's staggered entries see them falling perfectly into place, and the sense of belonging in the title is somehow realised in the music. The old-fashioned jazz swagger of 'Midnight' is a refreshing change of gear and allows Carpenter to step forward as lead vocalist. With wry lyrics and an infectious pizzicato riff, 'Note to Self' is another expansive piece which sees Carpenter and Steele sharing vocal duties once more. Its simple and understated ending closes the disc well.

With both discs, what is most impressive is the fact that Piefinger refuse to take refuge in the lush array of sounds they are able to make. There are no duff lyrics swept under gorgeous vocal scrunches or flashy string runs; although both of the latter are on offer in the right places. This taste and restraint also extends to the smart packaging of the EPs.

Complaints? I've only really got a couple of gripes with this pair of releases. The lack of percussion in the recording leaves the band's sound slightly naked and somewhat unglued. However, the most recent finger in the pie is a drummer, so hopefully future CDs will have sufficient clack and splash to satisfy the Animal in all of us. As with many self-financed recordings there is some room for improvement in the mixing and mastering of both EPs, but that simply makes me eager for the day that they are able to put out a full-blown album. Until then, these CDs are a great reminder of one of London's more absorbing acoustic acts and their ability to transport their audiences to a musical place that feels like home.

Piefinger - www.piefinger.co.uk
Rich Barnard - www.richbarnard.com

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Piefinger - Here Inside the Night & Time Alone EPs ©2005 Rich Barnard & Virtually Acoustic
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