Widowspeak are set to release their second album, Almanac, on 1/22 via Captured Tracks. After only having formed less than two years ago, in 2010, it sounds like Molly Hamilton and Robert Earl Thomas have really settled into their sound. The new single is a beautiful ballad in every sense of the word, hence the title,”Ballad of the Golden Hour”. From the description of Almanac’s style, Kevin McMahon (Swans, Real Estate) really expanded on the bands ability to layer their guitars. I couldn’t agree more. I completely melted and every muscle in my body relaxed at the 39th second into the song when the bass partners with the slide guitar to accompany Hamilton’s vocals. “Ballad” really captures Widowspeak’s western flavor, and the haunting/echoey melodies remind me of a more country and less folky version of Midlake. Push play and fall in love.