The Finches

Human Like A House

(Dulc-I-Tone)

US release date: 30 January 2007

UK release date: 29 January 2007

by Dan Raper

Human like a House is the debut full-length album from San Francisco folk group the Finches. This winsome group floats somewhere between the Waifs and the Bird and the Bee in the female vocal folk-pop category, but their appealing tunes never seem indebted to those groups. Calm, country-tinged acoustic guitars and bass, an occasional banjo, and Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs’ smooth voice—with these simple ingredients the Finches sketch calm and childlikeness. On “Goettingen, Du” the mention of a “soup that’s warm” perfectly paints an idyllic view of home. But on “The House Under the Hill”, the Finches miss the vivid portrayal of childhood that distinguishes tracks like Josh Pyke’s “Middle of the Hill”. The CD also features some impressive artwork, with a series of etchings (a collaboration between the singer and artist Keegan Mchargue) in a handsome booklet. As restricted as it is by genre, this small-scale release offers some charming moments.

— 30 January 2007
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