Watchhouse - Rituals (2025)

With their ninth album, Watchhouse presents a sense of homecoming, of confronting change and learning to accept discomfort as a part of life. Formerly known as Mandolin Orange, the folk duo composed of married couple Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz established themselves as masters of creating simple but profoundly compelling songs with their critically-acclaimed, self-titled previous album; Rituals follows in its footsteps and beautifully explores life's mysteries and joys.

Opening with the introspective "Shape," Rituals quickly picks up the pace on "All Around You," initiating an ebb and flow of emotion that remains steadfast during the remainder of the record. Marlin's rich voice mixes perfectly with Frantz's gentle, dreamy harmonies running throughout, whilst the wide array of instruments (mandolin, piano, tenor and 12-string guitar, violin) displays the couple's immense musical talent. The instruments hold their own unique place in the songs and complement each other well, whilst Frantz's violin weaves seamlessly throughout, acting as a third voice at times.

Home is a major focal point, or, more specifically, what it really means to feel at home. "All Around You" wrestles with the concept of home being within us, instead of a physical destination, where optimism and reassurance seep out through the steady beat of the guitar. The title track further explores change and the struggle of letting go of old habits, being a "song of empathy, both for myself and for others—an acknowledgment of the celebrated nobody in us all," as Marlin explains.

At times, the music is haunting, with harsh violin piercing over tremolo mandolin, before softening again. On "Sway/Endless Highway (Pt. 2)" the instrumental nearly overpowers us, building to a sudden tempo change that unifies all arrangements, and sets us on a path to album closer, "Patterns," where the hopeful, stripped back repeating coda of "aren't they something, all those little patterns, they lead us home through our lives" makes for a fitting end to this exquisite album.

TRACKLIST

1. Watchhouse - Shape
2. Watchhouse - All Around You
3. Watchhouse - Beyond Meaning
4. Watchhouse - Rituals
5. Watchhouse - Firelight
6. Watchhouse - False Harbors
7. Watchhouse - In The Sun
8. Watchhouse - Glistening
9. Watchhouse - Endless Highway (Pt. 1)
10. Watchhouse - Sway / Endless Highway (Pt. 2)
11. Watchhouse - Patterns