Holton's Opulent Oog - Love In The Mist

"An absolute treat." 9/10 NME

"Classic songwriting pushed many ways." 7/10 Drowned In Sound

For their second collection, Holton’s Opulent Oog gathered throughout 2009. Led by songwriter Nick Holton, from his rural hideaway studio The Oaki Room, they’ve dreamt up a spellbinder. Songs of mystery and imagination. Beatific, emotional, transporting, brimming with dreamy melodies and full of darkness and light - this is a special album.

The magic ingredients are Spanish guitar, violins, dubby keyboards and beautifully deft percussion. The album has a distinctive, carefully wrought sound, but it’s the variety within that sound; the sting and mystery of the lyrics that are so strong.

The album wears its contradictions on its sleeve. Confidant, ambitious tunes about fragility and danger. Homilies to love and solidarity shot through with separation and melancholy. Here, a beguiling waltz, somewhere between menace and melancholy; there, a foray into psych-out chaos and back again; elsewhere joyful poppy sing-alongs. As if the Bonzos showed up to jam with the Beatles during the White Album.  At times a moving, noble, trumpet-led melody should take it all to Mexico, but the album stays hovering over English landscapes, English hopes and dreams. This music couldn’t have come from anywhere else.

It’s usually a cliche to say a writer ‘paints with words’ but here the description holds. At times Holton’s lyrics are shadowy, elusive, impressionistic. At others they’re pungently direct, "The earth is not moving it’s a fucking stampede." Arresting threads emerge. The forging and dissolving of hope. Pleas for solidarity, independence and faith. And always coming back to the unstable glue of love, "The greatest gift of all is to hold the hand beside us all."

It's impossible to describe this album without mentioning Dylan at his most cryptic and tuneful; Gainsborg’s way with a world weary melody; Cohen’s cracked voice for a cracked heart. Beauty in fear and defeat. But always chivalry. Gallantry. The gift for facing up. It’s complex, darkly elusive and at times unpinnable. But it all comes with so much melody, subtle harmony and loving detail.

Featuring some guests Neil Halstead (Slowdive/ Mojave3) singing backing & folky lead guitar; Joe Bennett & Robin Bennett (Danny & The Champions Of The World) on Trumpet & Flute; join drummer Ian McCutcheon (Slowdive, Mojave3, The Loose Salute) & violinist Roger Proctor, ‘Love In The Mist’ is as original and complete a record as you’ll hear in 2011. Put it in your pipe and smoke it.

Tracklisting:

1. In-between Curtains 2. Canter Forth 3. Rough Times 4. Go Before You Strip Away My Mind 5. It's About Company 6. Into The Market 7. Chat About 8. Do You Miss Someone? 9. Don't Turn Away 10. Gay Archers 11. I Don't Believe You 12. Love In The Mist

Be the first to review this record. Best reviewer each month gets £10 off their next order!