Lori McKenzie and Inger Hansen are the acoustic duo The Almosts. From Canada and Germany respectively, they met in 2003 at the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music where they both study pop music. In early 2004 Lori needed a guitar player to accompany her rendition of “Gravel” by Ani Difranco for her singing lesson. Musically, the two clicked immediately, and they decided to try writing music together to see what would come of it. The resulting music is comprised mainly of voice and guitar; the music is straightforward, a bit rough around the edges at times, but honest. There’s no gimmick, no commerciality, and no strings attached. If you like it, you like it; and if you don’t, you don’t. It is what it is.