From the opera stage to Sonny and Cher, there is no better way to express love than a duet. Suffolk-based singer-songwriter Belinda Gillett is joined by collaborator Kevin Pearce in a breathtaking and heartfelt expression of tenderness in their new indie-folk single, “Oh Love.”
“Oh Love” is not the sort of love song that you belt out in an amphitheater at ear-splitting volume. It is not the kind of thing you wire through a boombox and hold outside a balcony like in some corny romantic comedy from the 1990s. In many ways it is far more intimate, a song that is introspective, delicate, and perhaps even private, words whispered between two lovers in the wee hours of the morning, not meant to be heard or understood by anyone else. Yet, as a listener, you feel exceedingly fortunate to be able to.
Singing to the accompaniment of a solitary acoustic guitar, it is impossible to ignore the virtuosity of both vocalists. Gillett is the first to sing, and she soars above the instrument with a rich, resonant tone and effortlessly long musical phrases that hold you in total suspense.
As she passes the singing to Pearce, he proves himself a worthy partner. His baritone is equally captivating as he sensitively picks up where Gillett left off. But it is not until their voices finally converge in lockstep harmony when the full impact of the song can be felt. Their voices fit together effortlessly like two puzzle pieces, one breath shared by two different people. And, after all, that is what love is all about.
“Oh Love” is available on all major streaming platforms.
Written by Jacob Jahiel
FOLLOW BELINDA GILLETT:
