And now for something completely different…
Surely, we’ve all had those moments where upon the discovery of a new tune from a previously unknown artist, it very quickly consumes you as it seeps under your skin? When clicking an audio file from an interesting looking press release (or legitimate social media link) suddenly fills the space with a sound completely unexpected – leaving you scrambling to learn more and wondering how this music has only now landed on your radar. But wait, there’s more! That this band has British roots too? How did I, the British fella, not know about this? Yeah, we’ve all been there, right?
Originally from the industrial town of Scunthorpe in Lincolnshire (and currently based in Louisville, KY), siblings Henry and Rupert Stansall write and record music under the name Ruen Brothers – itself a moniker using parts of their first names – and have just released “Awooo,” their fourth full-length album. I have not yet sampled this album – as I am still absorbing this single, “Sitting at the Station,” a teaser track shared just a few days before the album hit steaming platforms, and one that was immediately bookmarked for a standalone GDW review.
But just where do I start? How about by defining the genre? Yeah, good luck with that! Folk music, maybe? With eerie cinematic spaghetti western-noir influences, perhaps? I guess that when you learn that Rupert is a classically trained guitarist, and Henry a choir-trained tenor with a four-octave vocal range, why waste time trying to fit this square peg into a round hole? What we have here is something incredibly unique – aptly summarized in their press release as a distinctive blend of conceptual songwriting, orchestral grandeur, and folk minimalism. You know, I maaaaaay have gotten to that same conclusion, eventually…
“The song was written in all of 15 minutes over a phone call, as if it were something we jotted on a notepad,” the brothers share. “The production was purposefully kept minimal to leave room for large reverbs, which immerse the listener in a hauntingly lonely, open space.” Haunting indeed – with the presence of a white noise overload from the offset, followed by vocals that reverberate and echo as if from a public address system, the opening lyrics grab your attention, luring you into their world: “Just sitting at the station / Sitting at the station / Sitting and a-waiting for you / Like bats in the night / Hanging on a line / Hanging under the moon…”
Per the press release: Self-produced (single and album), arranged, mixed and mastered by Rupert, this tune features Henry’s intimate vocals capture on a vintage ribbon microphone, layered with precisely crafted arrangements that expand from sparse beginnings – vocals, a three-stringed acoustic guitar, and a 1930s kick drum – to sweeping cinematic crescendos. “The lyrics are inspired by late nights waiting at train station platforms in the north of England,” the siblings add. “The tannoy speaker-vocal at the top of the song sets the scene and is followed by a repetitive kick drum that emulates the rhythm of moving trains.”
Upon subsequent listens, I detect some vocal similarities to Ryan Boldt (The Deep Dark Woods) – some similar crooning as found in Boldt’s 2025 single “Ruby.” But as for their overall sound and originality – let me stick to my opening statement of ‘and now for something completely different.’ In hindsight, the last time I used that tagline was back in 2019 when reviewing a song titled “The Chase” by Toronto band Run Coyote. Yeah, that one was avant-garde and out there too. Let me close by offering to raise a glass to artists like The Deep Dark Woods, Run Coyote and Ruen Brothers, who push the boundaries, defy convention, refuse to conform, and make the term ‘genre’ somewhat irrelevant and obsolete. Cheers fellas – thanks for keeping music interesting!
Photo Credit: Ruen Brothers / Bandcamp
The British guy that crossed the ocean and crash landed in central Pennsylvania (to quote Greg Keelor, “And I wonder what am I doing here?”). As the youngest of four siblings, exposure to music from a very early age nurtured my passion and appreciation for many musical genres. Continuing to discover some amazingly diverse and talented musicians based in Canada, I gravitate to live music experiences and remain devoted to spreading the word about such a vibrant music scene.
