The Hanseroth Twins – Vera
The Hanseroth Twins have a new album, Vera, produced by the twins with executive producer Brandi Carlile. For those need a memory jog, the Hanseroth Twins are Brandi’s longtime guitar players. All but one of the songs on the album are originals, written by at least one of the twins. The album is fully conscious and reflective and the music is easy, honest Americana. For anyone who is curious: the songwriting game is strong here and the twins tap into some core human ordeals and emotional realizations.
“If Everyone Had Someone” sets a slightly steadier tone for the album than some of what follows, with a reflective vibe, restrained vocals, and electric guitar melodies playing by note rather than chords. The lyrical focus is warm: “in the darkness there would still be a light if everyone had someone like you.”
“Broken Homes” is sorrowful acoustic guitar, vulnerable vocals and “yes I come from a broken home, with an old chain link fence and green shag on the floor / the covers pulled tightly up over my head / broken homes hurt long, broken bones heal strong.” The Hanseroth Twins start here to show their deeper, more painful stuff here – things aren’t so cheery as things get more real.
“I’ll Always Know I Do” is reflective acoustic guitar and features Brandi Carlile, unmistakably, on harmonies: “There may one day comes time when I cannot recognize your face, I might know that I should know you from somewhere I may not remember that I know you but I’ll always know I do.” It’s a gentle and appropriately complex consideration of aging and memory and love.
“Remember Me” sports both brothers on Mellotrons, close double vocals, and a gentle, heartwarming homage to the kind of love we hold for our children. “Counting the Days” adds resonator guitar and mandolin to a darker, huskier song about listening to the traffic below with bad thoughts knocking on the door, noting that we’re aging and things still aren’t perfect, and just needing to get back home: “you’re waiting for the highs to save you from the lows.”
“Under the Weather” is an emotional piano, with Catherine Carlile adding harmonies and an impassioned song about longing to find your way back to that special someone. “I’m always under the weather or I’m over the moon and I’ve got no place to land between the two… I’m searching for the way down to you.”
This album invites you to pull up a chair and listen, rather than flinging its messages and stories straight out directly, far and wide. These songs are the real thing. The Hanseroth Twins prove without a doubt that they’re both serious songwriters in their own rights, with moving, captivating lyrical twists conjuring imagery that makes you feel something real: longing, sorrow, joy, and bittersweet anguish. Find their music and more details here: https://www.thehanserothtwins.com
Note our previous coverage here: AmericanaFest 2024 Day 1
The album was mixed by Brandon Bell with mixing assistance from Annie Petrik. It was engineered by Jerry Streeter, Nathan Yaccino, Brandon Bell with additional engineering by Dave MacKay. It was mastered by Pete Lyman at Infrasonic Sound in Los Angeles with assistance by Daniel Bacigalupi.
Musicians on the album are Phil Hanseroth on vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, mandolin, claps, mellotron, drums and bass; Tim Hanseroth on vocals, acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic, mellotron, claps, resonator guitar, piano, percussion and drums; Dave MacKay on piano, B3 organ, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, and synth; Brandi Carlile on backing vocals; Josh Neumann on cello; JT Bates on drums and percussion; Matt Chamberlain on drums and percussion; Amanda Shires on harmony vocals on one song; and Brandon Bell on mellotron and Moog bass.
