The Portland, OR, folk duo Horse Feathers consist of singer/songwriter Justin Ringle (acoustic guitar, vocals, percussion) and multi-instrumentalist Peter Broderick (violin, banjo, mandolin, cello, viola, piano, saw, percussion, vocals). Ringle grew up in Idaho and played in several short-lived indie rock bands during his teenage years, but moved to Portland in 2004, where he met Broderick, who was already a member of the more established Portland band Norfolk & Western. They spent much of 2005 writing songs and honing their live performances at various Portland open-mike nights. Influenced by both the stark folk music of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska and the post-classical work of Scandinavian composer Max Richter, the duo entered the studio in February 2006 to record its debut album, Words Are Dead, 11 chamber-folk tracks featuring Ringle's high, reedy vocals and enigmatic lyrics and Broderick's baroque filigree. Words Are Dead was released on Lucky Madison Records in September 2006. The band inked a deal with the Kill Rock Stars label the following year, releasing House with No Home in 2008. - all music guide