By Zac Taylor
Managing Editor

Nini Fabi sets the mood of the record in the first few moments: “One, two, three.” Childlike. Poignant. Bare-bones simple. More than a hundred folks shouldered into their CD release show last month at the Lily Pad, a small, quaint art gallery in Inman Square. Recorded at world-renowned Avatar studios, which has had recent projects by Norah Jones and Ryan Adams (Fabi sang into the same microphone as Norah. Not the same brand—the same one), The Reasons We Try was produced by Rich Mendelson, (Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Paul Simon); the sonic quality begs to be listened to on hi-fi speakers, i.e. if you open it up with iTunes on your laptop—you’re doing yourself a giant disservice.

The moniker of the band as a duo is mildly misleading: it is indeed the ensemble dynamic that gives the sound a face. In addition to penning the tunes together, Ben Gebert supports the leading lady with care through sparse acoustic guitar picking, a warm tenor voice, and elegant piano. Add to the mix Jake Cohen’s precise drumming, Johnny Duke’s absurdly tasty guitar playing, Derek McWilliams’ spot-on grooves and vocal harmonies, and Tommy Bohlen’s buttery pedal steel—you have all the vital ingredients for a soulful Americana pie.

Themes of death and wandering hearts echo through the songs’ narratives. The songwriting is charming in a clunky way, and always honest, never showy. “I feel your breath wrapped around my spine. Why can I be yours, I’ve never been mine,” she sings in “I Won’t Look Back.” Next up is crowd favorite “Go and Fill Your Cup,” which is as close as the duo gets to an actual duet. Gebert’s breathy cooing supports the female lead, both of them longing, desperate. Duke’s tasteful Dobro licks support the earnest vocals, which has a hint of Bonnie Raitt when Fabi pushes the pedal down a little further.

They re-recorded a couple tunes from their debut EP Rise and Shine: “Down to the Road” (The lead track on Heavy Rotations Vol. 6) and “Easier.” While the arrangements are pretty much the same, the fresh renditions illustrate the band’s growth over the last couple years. They’ve been touring their butts off around New England, and have perhaps been caught in a position that many young bands find themselves in: playing too many gigs. But Nini+Ben are one of those young bands that makes you think: “Wow, I’m glad I’m seeing them now before it costs $45 on Ticketmaster.”