Upon first listen of “Stinging Nettle, Honeysuckle,” I couldn’t help but be struck by a certain lurking nostalgia for the Appalachian ballads I grew up listening to in the heart of Virginia. Geographically and stylistically this sentiment was a little bit off — Blessed Feathers, the geniuses behind the new album Hey All You Floridians, in actuality are from Wisconsin, drawing inspiration from the sprawling Midwestern forests. Regardless of where it was created, the most recent offering from the Blessed Feathers is a hauntingly beautiful piece that masterfully shows a true understanding of modern folk music.
Modern, in that there is an undeniable restlessness that exists throughout the melody — the originally unassuming banjo line picks up intensity as the song goes on. This, when combined with the whisper-like quality of the lead singer, creates a feeling within the listener that I have only been able to describe as unnerving yet soothing. I’ll be the first one to acknowledge that in print this makes little sense; but as soon as you give this track a few listens it will be easy to understand how the eerie vocals and lulling instrumentals are so deliciously at odds.
Perhaps one of the best things about “Stinging Nettle, Honeysuckle” is the completely organic feel of the lyrics throughout the song. The banjo line is so simple it originally comes off as casual, noncommittal riffing, giving the impression that the lyrics were made up as the song went along simply because they are what came to mind. The result is a feeling of utter sincerity in the music. I could harp on for hours, but with their widespread talent (all the band members play a variety of instruments) and obvious love of the material it boils down to this: Blessed Feathers is a band to keep track of.