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It is fitting that power roots duo The Mastersons called their latest record Transient Lullaby, as its songs seem to find them in a state of in between, of brevity and constant change. The husband and wife, Chris and Eleanor, know the road well. They’ve been touring as part of Steve Earle’s band The Dukes for years, in addition to their own steady stream of releases since 2012. They’ve also relocated between Brooklyn, Austin and Los Angeles, always on the move and rarely getting the chance to settle down in one place. Transient Lullaby is a reflection of that lifestyle and its impermanence.
The fine-tuned way Chris and Eleanor harmonize together has only gotten stronger and more polished on their third record. They gracefully and effortlessly switch off lead singing duties, creating a mellow balance between their sweet, honeyed voices. Opening track “Perfect” finds them reaffirming their love for each other, despite their circumstances often being less than ideal. “Please tell me that you made a plan/We’ll do the best we can/We’re not perfect/But we’ll turn these tears to gold,” they sing, quite perfectly in harmony actually. This lovely tune has a dreamy, sun-drenched Laurel Canyon vibe that suits their sound.
“Fire Escape” begins with a Neil Young-esque acoustic guitar melody before the Mastersons softly ease into their harmony: “Come sit with me on the fire escape/C’mon baby/We can make it/Don’t you know you can always count on me?” they sing, capturing that all-we-need-is-each-other passion that comes from clinging tight to your beloved in the midst of difficult city life. Though it’s a romantic chorus, the song is laced with a dark uncertainty.
Perhaps the song that best speaks to where they’re at is the gentle “Happy When I’m Moving,” a tribute to the never-ending changes they go through as a couple. Chris and Eleanor seek out the silver lining in this pastoral, sparkling gem, studded with smooth harmonica. It is a reminder of the importance of gratitude and staying positive, even when life seems hopeless or you feel untethered. The beautiful message in Transient Lullaby is that you can ground yourself through the person you love, rather than the place you live. Home is wherever they are.
