Softly caressing songs, delicate shivers: the promising beginnings of a pop heir, son of Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn.
While in the artistic realm genealogy isn’t always an exact science, some family stories are obvious enough. Thus, when Blake Watt, the son of Ben Watt and Tracey Thorn, aka Everything but the Girl, ventures into the craft of pop, one can’t help but anticipate a few tender thrills.
Hope partly fulfilled on The Thread, the debut album released by the offspring under the alias Family Stereo, already responsible for a dozen EPs since 2022. With the superb Remedy opening, pure delicacy on its melancholic melody — which needs only a minimal piano and a spectral arrangement to convince us of its gentlest intentions — the album immediately shows its bona fide credentials.
A Hope Is Born
Although the follow-up sometimes settles into a rather anesthetizing prettiness (Collapsing, Three Moon Trail…), Blake Watt knows his twee, folk and art-pop touchstones well enough (Lilac Time, Beautiful South, Belle and Sebastian, even the graceful early days of his parents) to win us back — especially on a Fault Lines that feels very Tim Smith (Midlake, Harp), or with the lushness of a DLR, all languid waves, and this Silhouette on the Hill infused with regrets.
The production by Sam Hodder-Williams (also on synths) calmly tames the humble theatricality of the performance, which finally unfolds on Tunnels: Family Stereo indeed makes the smart move to close with this exhilarating track that genuinely makes us want to see Blake grow, and blossom even more.
The Thread (Bella Union/Believe). Due out on July 31.
