Chocolates and Cigarettes

Released in 2006, Chocolates and Cigarettes is the debut EP from Australian sibling duo Angus & Julia Stone, marking the beginning of their rise to international indie-folk prominence. Recorded with a minimalist ethos, the EP showcases the starkly different but complementary songwriting styles of the pair: Angus's laid-back, surf-folk sensibilities and Julia's more whimsical, often melancholic narrative approach. The track 'Paper Aeroplane' and the title track helped establish their signature 'sibling blend' - a vocal harmony style where their voices often track each other with slight, emotive variations. Critically, the EP was praised for its honesty and lack of pretension, standing out in the mid-2000s indie scene for its refusal to use heavy electronic elements or over-production. It serves as the foundational blueprint for their career, containing the DNA of the atmospheric, sun-soaked folk that would later define their chart-topping albums like 'Down the Way'.