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Recommended by us on 30th April 2009
...according to our Brian on Thu 30 Apr, 2009.
To have sprawling, gibbering kudos from both Ben Chasny & Bonnie Billy on yr press release is usually enough to ensure that the neo-folk crate digging brigade are out in force. You should check out Trembling Bells if you've not already. It's not that i'm a complete folk ignoramus but i'm stuck for words with this bunch as the music is utterly transcendental, the opener is like Fairport Convention at a seance on mushrooms with a brass band. Vocal duties are shared between boy and girl and the full band intrumentation that characterises this very English sounding folk-rock quartet is quite something to behold. Rich in texture, detail and history, 'Carbeth' is both eyebrow raisingly contemporary & charmingly traditional. It's also a very intimate & celebratory record, full of warmth & humour. I can't actually start to think of how to "review" these tracks, they're too colourful and layered with cheeky bursts of the unexpected but rest assured this is an essential modern folk album that will perplex, delight & confound. I'm going home with this seductive strumpet tonight. This is my personal album of the week, even after one quick listen I totally know it's a classic! LP/CD on the commendable Honest Jon's'Jesus fucking shit! These jamz claw so hard at the tatties below methinks the Lord misnamed them, having intended to say trembling BALLS' (Will Oldham).
'Trembling Bells are my kind of band — the recording feels live, the sound is gloriously imperfect and they know their roots. Highly recommended' (Joe Boyd).
'You are not going to come across a record more gorgeous OR fist-in-the-air than this. Simultaneous crying and fighting music. Bring on the Army, 20,000 to 1. Or bring on the Long Lost Love. This is the record for that! This is not a description; it's a Goddamn warning' (Ben Chasny).
'**** A deeply affecting ode to lost love resonates with the ancient spirit of Britain. Alex Neilson has a theory that folk music is at its heart free, and hence can serve as the base for whatever kind of journey you care to take from it. The theory is put into practice brilliantly on this incredible collection of songs, which combine early music, psychedelic noise, anthemic rock and traditional British melodies to carry tales of heartbreak and yearning.... [Lavinia Blackwall's] voice is extraordinarily affecting — so pure and light, she sounds more fairy than human — and she brings great tenderness to sad love songs such as Summer's Waning and Garlands Of Stars... the myriad musical ideas are nailed down by classic, disciplined songwriting' (Mojo).
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Norman Records,
Unit 20, Croydon House,
Croydon Street,
Leeds,
LS11 9RT, UK.
Tel/fax: (+44) 0113 245 4399
Email: phil@normanrecords.com
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