I discovered The Staves a few years ago when I heard their song Mexico. This is a beautiful yet simple song that shows the power that these ladies’ voices have. The Staves are three sisters from England, Jessica, Camilla and Emily Staveley-Taylor. It’s clear that The Staves have been playing music since they came out of the womb. Their pristine voices and crystal harmonies are captivating.
Originally called The Staveley-Taylors, The Staves began playing open mics at pubs in Watford, England in the early 2000s. They later changed their name to The Staves and performed on the Tom Jones album, Praise and Blame, which was released in July 2010. In 2011 The Staves released two EPs: Live at Cecil Sharp House and Mexico. In 2012 The Staves toured with The Civil Wars and their fan base began to grow. For the next few years they supported and played with artists such as Ben Howard, Nathaniel Rateliff, Bear’s Den, and Bon Iver. They released their debut album, Dead & Born & Grown, in November 2012.
The Staves released their third and newest album, The Way is Read, on November 24th, 2017. This album is a collaboration of The Staves and the NYC-based chamber music ensemble yMusic. The Way is Read opens with Hopeless, an a cappella number that has reminders of their first album. The second track, Take Me home, is mostly yMusic and, frankly, is weird. Honestly I skipped it because it was too intense for me. It’s a beautifully orchestrated song, but it sounds like it belongs on a movie soundtrack rather than a Staves album.
The rest of the album is a mixture of beautiful voices, poetic violins, and crazy intense jams. It will take me a few more listens before I feel less like I’m in a rollercoaster without my seatbelt…hopefully.
I definitely recommend starting with their first album, Dead & Born & Grown, before listening to The Way Is Read. For those who are already fans of The Staves definitely check out their new album. It’s strange and hauntingly beautiful, and I’ll bet that they are really proud of this project and excited to share it. The Way Is Read is now on Spotify, along with all of their other albums, please check them out!
Autumn Micketti 