Pharis & Jason Romero These Are The Days That Turn In to Years
Four years have passed since their last album, Tell ‘Em You Were Gold, released on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. From their barn in Horsefly, British Columbia—between crafting banjos and raising their two children, Pharis & Jason Romero have created the eleven songs that make up These Are The Days That Turn In to Years, released on June 12 via Lula Records.
Since meeting in 2007 through a shared love of old records and banjos, the Canadian duo have built a musical partnership rooted in sincerity and tradition. It is only natural that their new release follows the same path, capturing simple yet timeless moments: phone calls with aging loved ones, standing atop mountains, meditation, family feuds, nostalgia for things that have not happened yet, and sleepless nights.
These Are The Days That Turn In to Years also shines a light on the musicians surrounding the duo: Trent Freeman on fiddle, Patrick Metzger on bass, Clinton Davis on piano, and John Raham on percussion. Raham—whose credits include Frazey Ford, Dan Mangan, Tanya Tagaq, and Ocie Elliott—also engineered and mixed the album. By Pharis’s own admission, it is difficult to imagine making a record without them. Marin Patenaude, Pharis’s sister, also lends her voice to the insomnia-inspired “Last Night.”
This collection of songs, rooted in folk and old-time string-band traditions, offers a pure and intimate listening experience where masterful banjo playing and close vocal harmonies intertwine. Moments such as the single “Last Call” evoke the timeless spirit of the Carter Family:
“Last call for old times, last call to you,
Last call for company, I know you feel it too.”
The band’s joyful and slightly adventurous approach often stretches melodies into spirited, energetic rides through the more upbeat songs, while fiddle, ragtime piano, and subtle arrangements support the album’s more reflective moments. Throughout the record, Pharis & Jason Romero remind us that the ordinary days of our lives are often the ones that quietly turn into years.
Find more information here: https://www.romerobanjos.com/ and also here: https://www.pharisandjason.com/
Enjoy some of our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Pharis & Jason Romero’s “Bet on Love” is Homegrown Music Performed Live