She & Him // Volume 3
She & Him return with 'Volume 3'.
There is no real reason why a female/male duo who have creatively named themselves She & Him would come up with particularly original album titles, and, reassuringly, they have not. Their debut ‘Volume 1’ was followed by ‘Volume 2’, and 2013’s effort is, of course, named ‘Volume 3’. Comfortingly familiar. ‘She’ is Zoeey Deschanel, probably better known now for her role as Jess in ‘New Girl’, while ‘He’ is Mark Ward, well regarded for his solo indie tunes. Together they record harmonic pop with a distinctive retro influence and a folk twang.
Opening not-quite-subtly with a guitar line and some strong vocal riffs in ‘I’ve Got Your Number, Son’, She & Him’s fourth starts as it means to go on. Zoeey’s singing is eternally well executed and her control enviable, yet there is little change from the pair’s earlier collaborations. ‘London’ reflects on Deschanel'slove of our capital, and how it may occasionally be somewhat cold and gloomy. The ballad style is interesting, but the melancholic tune and lyrics revokes any sense of summer.
The three covers included on the album throw in a bit of diversity, though ‘Sunday Girl’ should never be sung by anyone but Debbie Harry. That said, Deschanel combines the French and English versions seamlessly, creating a touch of je ne sais quoi. ‘Baby’ stands out, as it is the only track in which ‘He’ makes a little bit of a vocal appearance. It’s a shame, because the pair harmonise together beautifully.
6/10 Maddie Russell
