Mandolin Orange, a North Carolina duo of Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz, has returned with a beautiful second and double album Hard Hearted Stranger/Haste Make. This little known musical duet combines vocals, guitar, mandolin, and fiddle in a sweet yet simple album that draws from many genres of music. This grassroots, local band has created an album that is definitely worth listening to. The songs are straightforward and easy to listen to, yet the overall effect is beautiful and a bit mournful.  

The group has a calm and mainly country/folk/bluegrass feel, but they also draw inspiration from blues and rock. The bluegrass feel is reminiscent of quiet days in the Appalachian Mountains. The double album is made up mostly of these country/folk songs sung by the tuneful Marlin with harmony by Emily Frantz, but Frantz contributes her sweet voice to several songs mixed throughout the album. In some songs like Killer and Haste Make the soulful fiddle or the harmonica of Slither stand out, while in other songs like Not a Word and Wake Me take a turn with a more bluesy rock feel which provides a nice contrast.

Mandolin Orange is an exemplary model of a southern country/folk band. They define quality country music with beautiful melodies and country lyrics that avoid wailing and whining about tractors. The album is at times melancholy, but the songs do have contrast and the album is short and sweet enough that it does not become too repetitive. The double album comes in at just over an hour of simple, tuneful music. Despite, and perhaps because of, the simplicity of the duo, Mandolin Orange has captured a beautiful essence of music that defies the boundaries of genre.