Comprised of
Kami Thompson and
James Walbourne,
the Rails are a husband-and-wife folk-rock group based in London. The duo's combined pedigree --
Kami is the daughter of
Richard & Linda Thompson and
Walbourne has been a member of both
the Pogues and
Pretenders -- ensured there would be initial public interest in their music, but the high quality of their 2014 debut,
Fair Warning, firmly established their songwriting abilities and creative chemistry. Over subsequent releases, the band have veered from traditional folk and Americana to exploring power pop on their more rock-oriented 2019 outing
Cancel the Sun.
Prior to
the Rails,
Thompson had worked with the likes of
Bonnie "Prince" Billy, her brother
Teddy Thompson, and
Sean Lennon, as well as being a member of the band Dead Flamingoes. For his part,
Walbourne's career has included stints with
the Pretenders,
the Pogues,
Son Volt,
Ray Davies, and
the Pernice Brothers, as well as playing in the Dead Flamingoes with
Thompson.
As
the Rails,
Thompson and
Walbourne released their debut record,
Fair Warning, in 2014. Co-produced by
Edwyn Collins and featuring fiddle work by
Eliza Carthy, the album was so hotly anticipated that Island Records decided to reopen their legendary pink label especially for its release. Largely featuring original material in the classic U.K. folk-rock vein,
Fair Warning also included a handful of traditional folk songs. For their follow-up,
the Rails headed to Nashville to record with
Ray Kennedy (
Steve Earle,
Lucinda Williams), emerging in September 2017 with
Other People. Their third album, 2019's
Cancel the Sun, moved away somewhat from the duo's folk side and featured a more electric blend of alt-rock, power pop, country, and even baroque pop. ~ James Pearce