Multi-genre Fredericton outfit The Stratified have released their debut EP, Crashing the Night Sky. Though they describe their genre as both Maritime folk and indie-rock, audiences are sure to lean more towards the former and feel right at home in the fiddle fest that is Crashing the Night Sky.
The Maritime influences are the ones that grab this album by the horns. A beautiful fiddle piece is included in all seven of the album’s tracks, and the beats are fast enough to bob your head back and forth to, yet slow enough to put your feet up to.
They even included a Maritime jig (dubbed Swallowtail Jig) and a song referencing the ocean. Whether you’re cracking open a beer on your patio or driving oceanside, those with an inclination towards Maritime music will find that this album contains songs for every occasion.
The lead track, Back to You, seems to be where the indie infusions are at their peak, which is to say that the inclusion of the electric guitar helps to remind us that this group is more than your run-of-the-mill Maritime-influenced band. Elsewhere, the subtle electric keyboard in “Stories in Fiction, “Waves”, and “Sunshine Smile” create an almost atmospheric undertone that seems to give a nod to the beauty that our side of the country has to offer, from Hopewell Rocks to the Cabot Trail.
Erin Keith stands out with her versatile fiddle patterns. From the spunky sounds in “Back to You” (which would make for excellent hiking music) to the gentle, heartfelt melody in “Migrations”, Keith does an excellent job of bringing home that Maritime feel that we all know and love.
With that raw, beloved Maritime vibe and infusions that could help the unfamiliar listener access it better, The Stratified have a supremely interesting setup going on here, and Crashing the Night Sky may be the start of great things to come.