“Known for their beautifully crafted songs, as well as for their straight-forward yet elegant performances.” NPR’s “Folk Alley”
“… the incredible musical bond between Marlin and Frantz… [is] an innate chemistry that’s been honed in the studio, strengthened by the road, and refined by time.” – Paste
North Carolina’s bluegrass duo, Mandolin Orange will release their highly anticipated new album, Blindfaller, on September 30 via Yep Roc Records. The release builds on the acclaim of the band’s breakthrough Yep Roc debut, This Side of Jordan (2013), and last year’s Such Jubilee (2015).
While staying true to their Americana sound, Blindfaller tackles modern day themes seen in our daily headlines. The duo – comprised of Emily Frantz (fiddle/vocals) and Andrew Marlin (mandolin/vocals) – recorded the album in a one week break from touring at Rubber Room Studio in Chapel Hill, NC. “We wanted different vibes and different intuitions on these tracks,” Marlin says, “and I feel like we really captured that.”
To bolster their message and sound on Blindfaller the duo added a full band, which features Clint Mullican on bass, Kyle Keegan on drums, Allyn Love on pedal steel, and previous collaborator, Josh Oliver, on guitar, keys, and vocals.
Founded in 2009, Mandolin Orange has built a noteworthy catalog of recordings. The band’s 2013 release This Side of Jordan garnered critical acclaim from NPR, who called the album “effortless and beautiful,” and American Songwriter, described it as “honest music, shot through with coed harmonies, sweeping fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar and the sort of unfakeable intimacy that bonds simpatico musicians like Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.”
Their 2015 follow-up, Such Jubilee, furthered their standing with inclusion in Rolling Stone’s “30 Great Country Albums of 2015 You Probably Didn’t Hear,” NPR’s Folk Alley’s “Best of 2015 Listener’s Poll,” and Amazon’s “Best of the Next 2015.” The record was #1 on Magnet’s “Top 10 Indie Roots Albums of 2015” and Paste called it “an album full of blissful moments.”
On the road, the band has built a dedicated following with extensive touring including appearances at Austin City Limits, Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Newport Folk Festival, and Pickathon.
