Cool new music from Robinson & Rohe - Into the Night

One of the great joys I have as a music reviewer is to stumble upon a band that I'm unaware of & submerge myself into their tunes for the very first time... Such was my experience when I heard this new record from the folk duo Robinson & Rohe. Hailing from New York City, they are a band with an elegance to their storytelling that translates to their music.

This Friday, Into the Night will be released for all of the world to hear, and human connection is a common theme on the record - It is found within the masterful harmonies, and the pair’s own narrative and emotive creativity seeps into the lyrical content and overarching energy that sets the stage for this release. Having Big Apple roots only emphasizes the swirling stress of society and social cues, expectation and experience, and the understanding that this one life to live is most likely much more than our typical day-to-day.

Written in 2019 by Jean Rohe and Liam Robinson, Into the Night was recorded in New York City in two phases: basic tracking with an all-star rhythm section before the pandemic in February 2020 and horns and backing vocals after the first round of vaccinations in July 2021. In the intervening months while the project was on pause and sirens echoed through the streets at all hours, this collection of songs revealed itself as a reflection on our mortality and a call to live our brief lives with joy, imagination, integrity, and music. While remaining true to their roots in the acoustic songwriter scene, the sound of this record is something of a departure for the duo, who got its start over 15 years ago as a song-leading and community music-making outfit, instigating social folk-singing experiences with audiences wherever it went. Since those early days, Jean and Liam developed a compelling body of original repertoire which they’ve shared in concert halls, intimate venues, barns, and bars for loyal fans and newcomers, while retaining a steadfast commitment to the uniquely transformative power of communal music making.

Stand out tracks included here are "Off Track," with its message of positivity, the enticing "Into the Night" with it's spot-on dual harmonies, and "Where I'm Coming From" which immortalizes the story of the working people who built the foundation for our country & harkens back to a time when ballads by the likes of Woody Guthrie were a part of our American songbook.

Robinson & Rohe are definitely a force (& a voice) to be reckoned with - Check out these tracks and see if you don't agree...