Imaginary People, Viv & Riley, CD

A bittersweet nostalgia lies at the heart of Imaginary People, the new album from indie roots duo Viv & Riley. Over ten tracks, the pair applies an indie folk sheen to pop gems, a reworking of an ancient ballad, and even an original fiddle tune, deftly weaving together the old and new. In contrast to the sunny, lush production, the lyrics lean melancholic. Both musicians trace their original artistic inspiration to the deep roots music they learned in their youths on opposite sides of the country. The duo's continuing musical expansion is in part the fruition of their new home of Durham, NC which is known for it's cross-genre collaboration and creatively articulated roots music. However, the track list is still peppered with pedal steel and the rootsy fiddle and banjo trappings the pair employed to acclaim on their previous two releases. As much as Imaginary People looks back to nostalgic yesteryears, it importantly marks the beginning of a new direction for these songwriting virtuosos.