Progressive Folk Duo from Chicago. - Frances Luke Accord: Maria

We've covered music by Frances Luke Accord before—they are a folk duo from Chicago that NPR’s Mountain Stage once called "the definition of lean-in music." With latest single "Maria," from their excellent new release "Sunnyside EP," Frances Luke Accord doubles down on the ethereal finger-style acoustic guitar and effortless vocal harmony that has become their signature sound.

"Maria" has moved through a few different iterations, and has already earned its place as their top-streaming single. This new variation, repurposed for the release of their new EP, features the welcome addition of banjo, and further explores an atmosphere of emptiness and calm. By adding a richer synchrony between lyrics and music, Frances Luke Accord exposes the spiritual center of the song's narrative arc, while preserving the expressive purity of the lead melody.

Frances Luke Accord occupies a unique and essential space in the realm of progressive folk music as they explore a modern legacy to the music of CSN, Simon & Garfunkel, Jose Gonzalez, and Bon Iver.

Nicholas Gunty and Brian Powers deliver a soulful branch of indie-folk that is orchestrated with spare and sophisticated acoustic threads, woven into a lush backdrop for their intimate melodies.

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