A friend of mine told me about Smoke & Fluff some time ago, knowing what a sucker I was for vocal harmonies. A duo united over two years ago, in the now historically renowned East London venue the Spitz, they combine electric guitar, bass, vocal harmonies and occasional mandolin. On stage Emma Ringqvist (Sweden) and Davina Brewster (London), they immediately catch the eye, making me wonder which one is Smoke and which one is Fluff?

The host for the evening was the Bodrum Cafe, situated in the busy centre of North London’s Stoke Newington, supporting the touring Swedish singer songwriter IIva. Their set opened with the short, punchy song named ‘what did you save’. The song combined a raw, angular rift, which seamlessly melted into a melodic vocal harmony that left me wondering where it would go next. The answer in his case was into a discordinate guitar solo that no sooner had it begun, had returned to their angelic vocal harmonies, I was hooked.

Once the crowd’s appreciative applause had settled, delicate guitar harmonics announced the ‘Boat Song’, which almost immediately had me closing my eyes and imagining a place that as the song expresses is surrounded by water.

Whether it was their relaxed demeanours in a cosy environment, or general confidence in their well thought out songs, I was left feeling comfortable in their hands, as they took me through the rest of their set. I was kissed by harmonies, twisted by unexpected guitar solo’s, then calmed by steady folk melodies that held me entranced and eventually upset as they bid a farewell with their dark and dirty fingered finale ‘Cicada’.

Smoke & Fluff - I Would! Wouldn’t you?