In The Dark We Grow is the fourth full-length album by UK-based folk duo Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage and takes listeners down a different path than their introspective 2022 release Ink of the Rosy Morning, which was born in the throes of the pandemic (perhaps the ‘dark’ from which this album grew). This offering boasts an expanded soundscape, including the organ, Appalachian dulcimer, mandolin and even the kazoo.
It explores themes of nature, love, and family. Interwoven with veins of melancholy, this album nevertheless sparkles with joy and exudes the sense of companionship that was rekindled for the duo by their Fairport Convention tour, where they spent weeks on the road with their fellow musicians. They add to this by inviting eleven special guests to perform on their new album, including Jon Thorne, Findlay Napier, Jess Morgan, Jade Rhiannon and Liz Simmons.
In The Dark We Grow is dedicated to the late Johnny Dickinson, the great Northumbrian guitarist and singer-songwriter who passed away in 2019. This album is a gift of thanks to Dickinson, who had a profound influence on Sanders and Savage.
Some tracks tell a story: in the heartbreaking traditional folk song ‘Border Widow’s Lament’, a woman sings her tale of woe, of how her beloved husband was slain by another and she was left to prepare him for the grave; in the equally mournful ‘Marbletown’, a young woman wishes for the peace of death, having been rejected by her lover when she became pregnant; and in ‘The Youngest Sailor’, a youth embarks on a journey across the waves to become the man he wants to be and return to win the heart of his love.
Other tracks – ‘Castles and Old Kings’ (penned by Johnny Dickinson), American poet and songwriter Richard Fariña’s ‘Quiet Joys of Brotherhood’, ‘The Lilac Bloom’ and ‘The Lavender’s Ready’ – paint evocative pictures of luscious landscapes and undisturbed corners of the world, conjure up images of a slow life in quiet country cottages or describe a journey back into nature.
And then of course we have that red thread of companionship, family, and deep love – from the gorgeous rising melody of ‘First Footing’, which celebrates new beginnings and each new stage in life, and the numerous guest singers who gather round for the vivacious ‘Say Darlin’ Say’, to the most intimate track of the album, ‘Save My Life’, a love song to love itself.
Each song is beautiful, grounded in gorgeous melodies and voices that complement each other perfectly – Sanders’ soaring clear vocals, the huskier warmth of Savage’s voice, and the unique flavours of each of the guest performers. If I had to describe the album in one word, it would definitely be ‘wholesome’ – and I think we could all use a bit more of that in our lives.