If the von Trapp name sounds familiar, well, it should. The Trapp Family Singers were the inspiration for the movie The Sound Of Music, and the character Kurt was modeled after Werner von Trapp. The four voices behind The von Trapps are the grandchildren of Werner von Trapp, who initially got their start by making a personal studio for their ill grandfather to record at home and lift his spirits. Fast forward a decade and the next generation of The von Trapps have traveled the world and collaborated with artists like Wayne Newton and Rufus Wainwright.
Now, however, the young von Trapps are taking on a new challenge by releasing a series of EPs of all original songs, beginning with the quick listen Dancing In Gold.
“Dancing In Gold” starts the brief journey with quirky keys and a throwback sound where subtle horns help punctuate the soothing harmonies and fun indie spirit. “Next To Me” follows with female lead vocals and gentle background cooing. It’s a lusher affair with aching strings and a busier but no less elegant feeling. “People Like Us,” featuring Israel Nebeker, starts out like the soundtrack to a fairy tale and keeps a whimsical feel, often sounding like an entirely different band. “Whisper” closes and is hardly hushed, as multiple voices coalesce into an almost spiritual conclusion of beauty and grace.
At four songs and barely surpassing 15 minutes, this one’s over before it starts. And that’s unfortunate, as The von Trapps pens easy songs to become engaged in and that are hard to forget. The tunes bridge the timeless sounds of icons like the Beach Boys as well as modern day stars like Fleet Foxes, but the bright harmonies and melodic folk-pop are entirely The von Trapps.
