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HITS Daily Double
Critics' Choice
AVRIEL & THE SEQUOIAS: QUIET IS THE NEW LOUD
6/9/17

The name Avriel & the Sequoias may be unfamiliar, but the voice and sensibility behind it is already famous: Avi Kaplan, formerly of Pentatonix. Yet Sage and Stone, his five-song independent EP is unlike anything Avi did with with his former group of a cappella pop acrobats (though his Penta-pedigree undoubtedly helped drive this EP into the Top 10 at iTunes). Stately and hushed, Sage and Stone channels the intimate, folky beauty of Nick Drake and his modern acolytes such as Iron & Wine. But while many a troubadour has attempted to capture that quiet power, Sage actually succeeds. On the string-enhanced "Fields and Pier," piano-fortified "Quarter Past Four" and the exquisite title track, the rich sweetness of his voice is a true marvel. He closes the proceedings with a bouncy "Sweet Adeline," after which you'll likely go back to the beginning. In a chaotic world, this sort of gentle beauty is a balm.