Deep Cutz
by Jeff Milo

Tone and Niche brew refined, lightlyjangled, warm-toned folk with pensive setting-sun piano accompaniments and shimmering, beautiful violin/viola swinging saws that lull your heart into a teary-eyed smile; the perfect soundtrack to the inevitable warming of the winds as winter turns to spring.

Anthony Retka (Tone) on guitar/vocals and Nicole Vagra (Niche) on violin, started playing around Detroit in 2002 doing covers, but soon originals, and in '03 and '04 released two recordings. Since then they experimented with a rhythm section and recorded their masterwork, Rust; and now have solidified drum and bass in Scottie Stone and Nick White.

Up next: "Taking the band on the road for a Midwest tour in the summer and continuing to record," Tone says. "Songs are coming out of our ears!"

The Internet sometimes feels like a mumbled rabble shouting seven-words-per-second. For calmer musical dissection and an uncut version of this article, check out: myspace.com/dccharlie and for more info: myspace.com/toneandniche. | RDW