Folk music without the stereotypical vocal twang is what Fencewalker brings to the plate with her EP Mourning the Whale. Her vocals may lack the overall classic folk twang but her musical backing is true blue folk (AKA there is some banjo goodness in a good number of the 8 songs on the album). Fencewalker reigns from Philadelphia, PA and claims on her Facebook page that the album was created with “me, fruity loops, and a cat in a basement with a resonator, and a piano, and whatever else I can accumulate.”

Mourning the Whale has a certain rawness to it that is prominent and honestly what makes live shows the creative and exhilarating experience that they are. Fencewalker’s vocals are soothing and smooth which relaxes the listener into a lull of peacefulness that would be perfect for a rainy day and a hot cup of tea. That being said, there are some times during certain songs (“Shoulders” and “Colors” for example) where the guitar and other instrumental backing seem to get off kilter and begin to feel jumbled and confused in comparison to the dreaminess that preceded the musical error.

The most interesting track on the album would have to be “Deceived”. “Deceived” is not only the lone semi-upbeat song, contrasting with the general calm of the rest of the EP, but it also has the most vocal range (“Hold” also shows some vocal experimentation).

In general, the Mourning the Whale is a good start for indie folk musician Fencewalker. The EP gives the listener an idea of what Fencewalker is capable of creating as an artist, but as a listener myself; I wish the album had more exploration in vocals. Don’t get me wrong, Fencewalker has a wonderfully sultry voice, but it seems like she could do so much more with her voice.

Listen to the stream of Fencewalker – Mourning the Whale: