Alex Woodard featuring Sara Watkins – “Reno”

Independent folk-pop-rocker Alex Woodard and former Nickel Creek newgrasser Sara Watkins have a number of things in common.

They both hail from Southern California. They’re both avid surfers. (Those are two distinct facts, by the way.) They’re both known for bridging musical gaps and occupying the in-between spaces in a way that confounds genre purists. Finally, they both sing on “Reno,” a duet from Woodard’s self-titled 2008 release.

First, we have to acknowledge that there are some problems. There’s not much that’s subtle about the arrangement, which leans heavily on prominent violin work for dramatic heft.

Moreover, the lyric is oblique in ways that don’t always seem intentional. There are some really nice moments, as when Watkins’ pristine soprano delivers the lyric “He says he needs coffee, but I think he means me/So I’m filling his cup with all my dreams” with all the clarity of a revelation. Elsewhere, though, common language is forced to carry too much weight, resulting in some confusion as to the exact nature of the relationship between these characters. A prime example is the chorus, built on colorless phrases like “is it time to let go” (of what?) and “leave these dreams behind me” (which dreams are those?) which the song’s verses fail to elucidate. Granted, ambiguity is a legitimate artistic choice, but here it isn’t always convincingly a product of craft or forethought (i.e. it could just as well be accidental).

What ultimately matters most about the song, though, is that the dynamic created by the combination of these two voices–Watkins’ angelic tone with Woodard’s cut-above-generic-soft-rocker grit–is utterly enthralling. If the storyline doesn’t completely work, the interplay between the two voices is enough fun that you won’t mind repeat listens as you try to puzzle it out. The urgent, believable performances offered on “Reno” bode well for the future prospects of both artists, though Watkins–whose solo debut is expected in April–particularly shines.