Upbeat, nostalgic male-female duet
I have to admit, here: I really love male and female duets, especially when they're singing directly back and forth to each other (favorites include Stevie Nicks and Don Henley's beautiful "Leather and Lace," Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush's heartbreaking "Don't Give Up," and of course, John Prine and Iris Dement's hilarious "In Spite of Ourselves"). "Suppose" by Rob Barnhardt is a lovely addition to the category, even if I don't exactly know the name of the female vocalist (I couldn't find it anywhere online). The song pulls from English folk motifs and Child ballads, with each person in turn asking whether one thing or another might be enough to accomplish this or that in their relationship. The songwriting is gorgeous, and the rich breadth of the lyrics hint at a complicated relationship with the perfect balance of specificity and ambiguity. The music feels like vintage Fleetwood Mac; upbeat, tender, and light.