Music
Press
"The New York group released an EP, "Let's Go Exploring," in 2008 and are currently working on a masterpiece. It's taking a little longer than you might expect because the group is first writing 30-40 songs, then selecting the best 10 or so for the debut LP. Way to over-achieve. Fortune and Spirits' dedication was recognized by the Music Emissions' community lately, taking home the title of Indie of the Year for 2009." - Future Perfect Radio
"Lead singers Jim Robert and Elizabeth Record forego the usual indie rock aloofness for a playful, defiantly unhip disposition while crooning some amazingly beautiful music. By the time they softly open "My Opening Line" in the middle of a crowded bar following a post-hardcore act, you realize these guys are taking some unusual chances and succeeding with an unusual poignancy for a band so young." - Musichead.org
"My Opening Line" is at first set in soft and subtle as well. The vocals make a chain and this track comes alive with full acoustic guitars. Include cello work and a very eclectic but jangly chorus. A well formatted song which privies you immediately to their knowledge for not-so traditional instrumental use in a Rock Band. I love how unique but accessible this music is. - Music Emissions
"Jazzy, smooth trumpet gives me a feel that reminds me of Hugh Masakela, which is a great compliment...
It has a real extravagant style like War and Hotel Hell-era Burdon. The trumpet there isn't as melodic as this one, but contains the same soaring moodiness. It's an absolutely stunning arrangement overall, original and powerful" - GarageBand.com
"The alternating lead singers help keep the songs fresh, aided by the upbeat melodies and the old-school vocal harmonies. The set was fantastic and they had a crowd dancing that seemed to keep their arms crossed and feet planted for the rest of the night. Definitely a band to keep an eye on." - Aural Fix Magazine
"Plenty of traditional instruments and vocals fill this rollicking gypsy tune. Violins and trumpets provide the incidentals over a blustery piano and drum base.
Excellent vocals are intertwined telling the mysterious and sad story full of intrigue and danger.
I could imagine this song on a Fleetwood Mac "rarities" collection. Where this song is fully realized but didn't have the usual pace and approach that their classic hits have and are known for." - User Review
Discography
"Babylon, Babylon" (EP) 2006
"Let's Go Exploring!" (EP) 2008
"Fortune & Spirits" 2010
Photos
Bio
"Unique but accessible" (MusicEmissions), "stunning arrangement... original and powerful" (Garageband.com), "a band to keep an eye on" (Aural Fix Magazine)...
A union of Van Morrison's warm musical restlessness, Baroque-pop symphonics, Motown girl group and Byrds-style blended harmony, Fortune & Spirits has a emerged as a refreshing new take on indie inflected folk-rock.
Hailing from Long Island, NY, Fortune and Spirits formed of the ashes of jazz-pop sextet nothing plural in 2007. Getting off to a rocky start with several line-up changes in the first year, Fortune and Spirits gained solid traction with the release of their debut EP "Let's Go Exploring," which opened to tremendous critical success on their home turf on the island. "We were beyond shocked by the reception," says violinist Michelle Kovacs, "it was supposed to be a demo we handed out at shows, just to get people to get acquainted with us. Well, we ended up selling something like 5,000 of them, and eventually we just had to stop, we felt weird charging for something we had recorded live in a couple days."
"Let's Go Exploring" went on to gain F&S accolades from the LI songwriters guild, track of the day on Garageband.com for "Septembirds," a victory in the Long Island band giveaway BOTB, and most recently honors as the Indie Band of the Year 2009-2010 on MusicEmissions.com, a grueling two month long word of mouth competition.
Perhaps most impressive of all, Fortune and Spirits have managed to gain this following without ever opening for or playing with a national or regional act.
"Yeah, that's not something you would usually show off about," says drummer Matt Record "but to put it simply, big acts don't play on Long Island anymore and we swore that before we started really touring we would try to become one of the bigger bands on the island. So yeah, even now, we're basically under the gun to headline all of our shows."
Fortune and Spirits is beginning touring in earnest in support of their upcoming self-titled LP - due out in early 2010.
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