Scarlet Haven is a group from the Boston area. Having heard some talk at Cornerstone about this band I knew I had to seek them out--not an easy task when even their web site doesn't tell you much about them. The lack of information means that the music has to stand on its own. Courtney Reid, the lead vocalist slightly reminds me of Leigh Bingham-Nash (Sixpence None the Richer) but her vocals are somewhat deeper. As the major songwriter, she has created some delightful music and her songwriting shows a lot more promise than most new bands. Lyrics mostly deal with relationships. Several of them are clearly Christian talking about a personal relationship with God.
Reid has a very talented group of musicians backing her up--never overplaying to detract one from the vocalist. Scarlet Haven is a five piece band; the other members are Aaron Faults (guitar), Todd Richard (drums), Joseph Rodriguez (bass), and Jen Townsend (cello). The music is a mix of folk and acoustic rock with some classical influences present--probably due to the presence of Townsend's cello. The production is also very good.
Scarlet Haven seems to be a closely guarded secret which certainly deserving of more exposure. Worth seeking out.
3.5 tocks
