A four-track recorder in the bedroom of Chris and Ali Wade; that's all that was necessary to record the aptly titled Mr. and Mrs. Wade.
Operating under the moniker of their namesake, the Wades, the husband and wife duo actually provide a far bit of artistic and stylistic diversity, despite only having two members with in which to do so. Ali handles most of the singing, and despite the limitations of how the actual music was recorded, her voice is really allowed to blossom, and the lighthearted, brooding acoustic tracks work just as well as the guitar driven, punky ones.
It's hard to know with the Wades just what to expect next. The first track is a dark, slow track with minimal instrumentation and haunting vocals by both Chris and Ali Wade. Again, the singing duties rest mostly on Ali, but Chris is more than able to hold his own when it's needed. The next track already offers up a real changeup, with driving post-punk rhythms and Ali Wade feeling a lot more full of life. That's not to say no effort was put into the previous song; it's just merely a change in tempos. The song remains upbeat throughout, with solid vocal interplay by the husband and wife combination. The rest of the album fluctuates between the two styles, with the majority of songwriting having punk leanings, rather than the feel of a solo singer/songwriter.
If nothing else, and especially with only two members and minimal recording capabilities, it's necessary to applaud the act for the diversity incorporated. Punk, new wave, rockân'roll, and even some country finds its way meandering into the disc somehow. What's more is that no matter the direction taken, they have the chops to make it feel truly authentic. Track 9, (sorry, this came without names for the songs) is a slower song, with the Wades crooning like they're competing for a spot on CMT. The background music is a dull electric guitar, but that doesn't detract from the feel of the vocals.
I'd be very, very interested to see what this tandem is capable of in a decent recording setting. They've got diversity, they've got talent, and they've got the ability to write simple but effective songs. From only two people, frankly, that's all you can ask for, but the Wades push that envelope just a tad further.