A couple of reviews about our Vicissitude album:CD Review Maverick Magazine April 2009 by Jim SoarsThe Haley SistersVICISSITUDEYET ANOTHER SUPERB RELEASE FROM TWO OF THE MOST UNDERRATED COUNTRY ROOTSSINGER SONG WRITERS IN THE UK.Those of us that attended the inaugural Maverick Festival in 2008 will never forget the stunning performances by Jo-Ann and Becky - the Haley Sisters.I watched grown men in tears after listening to their angelic harmonies delivering some of the most emotive and heart warming renditions of both covers and their ownoriginal material. The Haley Sisters sure rank as two of the most underrated singers and songwriters in the UK country and roots scene today.This newly released EP of six tracks, two of which are original compositions by Beckyand Brian Smith show just how exceptional the two sisters are in delivering a song and also that they are no slouches when it comes to writing a good lyric.The EP opens with their version of the Bob Marley penned"Three Little Birds".Their acoustic version of the classic cut is outstanding as is their version of the Dylan song"Don't Think Twice"."You Keep Me Hanging On" by the great JJ Cale also gets the Haley Sisters treatment and what a treat it is.Brian Smith is a superb guitarist and is the perfect accompaniment to Becky and Jo-Ann; his slide work on this track is stunning. Bill Staines is a great songwriter and the sisters' vocal on his song"Roseville Fair" is a joy to the ear. Brian gets his chance to shine on the instrumental title track"Vicissitude";his acoustic lead over the two rhythm guitars is exceptional, guitar mastery of the highest order.Final track"We're Together", written by Becky and Brian says it all, superb playing, singing and song writing all combining on this emotional heartfelt ballad.The Haley sisters: VicissitudePosted by John (Biscuits and Gravy) Davy on December 19, 2010The Haley Sisters are Yorkshire girls who've been performing together for twenty years or so, garnering a lot of plaudits along the way; on this evidence, they should be as well known as their near-neighbour Kate Rusby because this is really great music making. Beside Roseville Fair they perform three other covers. A complete re-imagining of Bob Marley's Three Little Birds make it sound as if Iris de Ment wrote it and this works really well, it's so sweet and gentle. I'm not familiar with the JJ Cale song covered here, You Keep Me Hanging On, but it flows like a languid stream on a summer's day; there's no sign of the trademark Cale shuffle which must surely be on the original, so I find it difficult to imagine what that sounds like but the sisters' version sounds just fine. Covering Dylan's 'Don't Think Twice' is kind of brave I suppose, given the competition, but this is an exemplary version; they inhabit the song and give it an air of gentle, very feminine, regret - it's easily the best version I've heard by a female singer, and that statement most definitely includes Joan Baez. The title track is a cracking, lively instrumental tune written by Brian Smith who seems to have been playing alongside the sisters for most of their career and they certainly sound as if they know each other inside out, musically speaking.Vicissitude closes with a dreamy little song, 'We're Together', written by Brian and"R Smith"; no details given, but I'd guess that would be Brian's wife. The band have recorded and produced this album themselves and made an excellent job of making a clear, warm sound, true to the use of acoustic instruments. It really is an excellent mini-album and certainly whets the appetite for seeing The Haley Sisters live; checking on their website I find they're only gigging in the north of England over the winter but maybe they'll be venturing further afield in the summer. Here's hoping.John Davy