Pamela Wyn Shannon/ The Magickal Folk of the Faraway Tree

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4...according to our Ant on Thu 26 Nov, 2009.

Autumn Ferment Records have released the second installment in their Seasonal Sevens split 7" series. This one just catching the tail end of Autumn with Pamela Wyn Shannon and The Magickal Folk Of The Faraway Tree. This is contemporary yet traditional folk music. Pamela Wyn Shannon's side 'Woolgathering' is a lovely intimate track full of pretty sounds and heartwarming lyrics about Autumn. The strings sound particularly soothing and her voice is most pleasing on the ear. I think this will appeal to lovers of the ladies of the modern folk movement like Meg Baird/ Espers/ Haruko etc. On the flipside the Magickal Folk do there thing, the vocal sounded very familiar and then I read it was David Colohan from Agitated Radio Pilot. He's singing about strawberry's and raspberries and it's making me hungry. This is quite a stripped down number with fairly simple yet effective strings and flute (I think!). Ltd hand numbered edition of 300 on brown vinyl (The summer single was on yellow so we're guessing the winter will come on white vinyl...)

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The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness is truly upon us so it’s high time we brought to you the second in our Seasonal Sevens series: Autumn, featuring Pamela Wyn Shannon and The Magickal Folk of the Faraway Tree.

Side A: Pamela Wyn Shannon, ‘Woolgathering’.

Originally from the States, but now living in Wales, Pamela’s ‘Woolgathering’ is taken from her fine salute to our season in question, ‘Courting Autumn’, released in 2007. With bleating sheep and the gentle trundle of a spinning wheel, ‘Woolgathering’ is a blustery walk through swirling leaves and bonfire smoke, draped delicately in autumnal melancholy. Finger picked guitar and violin sections as warm and comforting as a glowing hearth provide a full and emotive backing to Pamela’s charming vocals. With the right blend between rosy cheeked leaf kicking and the foreboding, drawing in of autumn nights, ‘Woolgathering’ is a perfect ode to the misty moistly season.

Side AA: The Magickal Folk of the Faraway Tree, ‘The Blackthorn Tree’.

The double A side’s ‘Blackthorn Tree’ is a track from Ireland’s wonderful and slightly mystique band of musicians, The Magickal Folk of the Faraway Tree (Shane Cullinane, David Colohan, Gavin Prior, Caroline Coffee, Sean Og and more ). Taken from their now long out of print cdr gem, ‘The Mildew Leaf’ released through Deserted Village in 2003, ‘The Blackthorn Tree’ is a folk flavoured foray through the hedgerows of love and romance, similar in analogy to Burns’ ‘Red, Red Rose’. With lead vocals from David Colohan (Agitated Radio Pilot) as heart warming and strong as a fine malt (or Sloe liquor) and with accompanying vocal harmonies, banjo and flute foraging their way throughout the track, ‘The Blackthorn Tree’ is an endearing song that will wrap you up against the frost of the encroaching winter.

Released on autumnal ‘leaf-mould’ brown coloured 7” vinyl with artwork front slip and housed in a deluxe pvc sleeve. 300 pressings only.

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