The Driftwood Manor Dominican Black Abbey EP

It’s a while since Rusted Rail have chucked some 3” CDs our way but this week three hit our saggy shelves. Much excitement! And if you’re one of those people who buy 3” CDs to listen to (unlike me who tends to get them to lose as they’re too bloody small) then you’re in for a folky feast.

The last Driftwood Manor album was actually a great album. It’s still in reasonably regular rotation at home which is a good sign in my book! On this EP Eddie Keenan (main lord of The Driftwood Manor) is assisted by Bryan Higgins of Galway doom merchants Rites for a doomier edge and lo and behold there is a “doom edge” to it. Also helping out in this shifting musical collective is Annemarie Deacy from Mirakil Whip. Partayy!!

Anyway if you’re not familiar with this DM they make awesome traditional sounding Celtic-influenced folk music with an experimental tinge. They are largely always folk but they change and diversify somewhat on each release with this one being occasionally doomy. Though I’ve just listened to the stripped back ‘Trees Shaped By The Winds’ track three times in a row which is very much in the vein of Adrian Crowley and hasn’t a sniff of doom about it. Excellent songwriting as ever.