Lois Maffeo & Brendan Canty – The Union Themes

Let us now praise modest pleasures, provided by musicians liberated from the egotistical (and marketable) need to produce something grand or epic. Almost by definition, indie-rockers can do what they like, so the collaboration of Lois Maffeo and Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty seems less a surprise than a natural outgrowth of artistic freedom.

Nevertheless, the lack of shock removes none of the quiet beauty of The Union Themes. From the opening strum of “These Things”, the music flows with a wistful surety of graceful melody. Maffeo, as another melodic element in the songs — and never engaging in the sort of vocal histrionics that would indicate otherwise — uses her strong, lissome voice delicately, evincing a loveliness to match the same quality pouring from the music.

Canty deserves much credit for that. He’s not content to be just the drummer, contributing quite proficient bass, electric guitar and piano. Assisted by the acoustic fingerpicking of Pete Chramiec, he accentuates Maffeo’s simple elegance, supplying shades of George Harrison slide for “How I Came To Know” and a carefree sprinkling of high ivory notes on “Give Faith”.

Together, Maffeo and Canty lend their not-unfamiliar stories — people joining and drifting apart, melding or disintegrating — the immediacy of true feeling. The Union Themes is a gem of modest, intimate proportions, the restraint of its creators letting it shine all the more brightly.