Weirdlore - Notes From The Folk Underground

Reviewed By The Active Listener

Soon to be released by the fine people at Folk Police Recordings, "Weirdlore" is a companion piece to the upcoming Bristol based festival, but is much more than your average rush released cash-in.
Weirdlore is considerably more than the sum of it's impressive parts. Expertly compiled and sequenced, it does for the current underground U.K folk scene what "Dark Is The Night" did for the American indie scene several years back.
Alasdair Roberts is probably the biggest name here and he acquits himself admirably with his impeccable, individualist vocal phrasing and hypnotic fingerstyle guitar.
As with "Dark Is The Night" though it's the less celebrated names that provide the highlights.
"Worship of Trees" by Telling The Bees sounds like a pagan Hawkwind left to their own devices in the woods, and features some exceptional violin work.
The Straw Bear Band's "Black Hive" is unsettling psychedelic folk of the highest order.
Starless and Bible Black's "If You Fall, I'll Fall With You" features interweaving acoustic guitar parts, the like of which I've not heard since Bert and John in their prime, while the False Beards' "Marie Celeste on Down" sounds like it was recorded a hundred years ago, in the best possible way.
Elsewhere Nancy Wallace stirs the heartstrings without getting saccharine on the quirky "Walking into Walls" while Boxcar Aldous Huxley's "Hora" alternates from sounding like something from a mid eighties Tom Waits album to a gypsy jazz take on "Trout Mask Replica".
It may be the final song "Pucelancyrcan" from Wyrdstone that illustrates the compilers intentions best though, effortlessly combining ancient sounding field recordings, with moodily arpeggiated guitars and pipes, all awash with a gentle psychedelia.
An impressive snapshot of a scene that's never been stronger or more diverse, this is essential listening for the adventurous folker with a taste for the unusual, and one of my very favourite releases of the year so far.

You can pre-order it here on CD.

Active Listener Radio #6

The Fallen Angels

Lots of tracks from recently reviewed albums on the show this week and a few from some upcoming reviews as well as some old favourites:

Houdan The Mystic, Kryzstof Komeda, Paul Weller's phenomenal cover of Nick Drake's River Man, Storm Corrosion, Sproatly Smith, Arbouretum, Hi-Fiction Science, Snails, The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, Serge Gainsbourg, The Fallen Angels, Lee Hazlewood, John Barry, The Bandits, Ennio Morricone, Father John Misty and Dead Horse One.

Stream it here:

Active Listener Radio 6 by The Active Listener on Mixcloud

Doug Jerebine Is Jesse Harper

Reviewed By The Active Listener. (8/10)

There's no shortage of Hendrix guitar disciples in the world, but New Zealand's Doug Jerebine is one of the more obscure, and certainly one of the best.
Jerebine recorded these demo recordings under the name of Jesse Harper in London in 1969 before going to India, quitting the music scene entirely to study Hari Krishna.
Recently Jerebine has started playing live again, and as a result Drag City have released this ( in vinyl and download format only ). Bootleg versions have circulated since the early nineties under the Harper name, but this is the first official release of this material.
A lot of it should sound familiar though. The Human Instinct were in London at the same time as Jerebine and looking for material that would suit their fiery new guitarist Billy T.K. After hearing an acetate of this material they adopted a number of Jerebine's tracks and released six of them over the next few years.
But what of Jerebine's versions? They're much more lo-fi than the Human Instinct's of course, but certainly of good enough sound quality to be highly enjoyable.
Jerebine has a good voice too, but most importantly he's a great guitarist. Less flashy than Billy TK, but he has much more depth and diversity in his approach.
Opening track ( and probably his best known track ) Midnight Sun is a good indicator of what to expect - heavy, and funky, it's halfway between Band of Gypsys and Gypsy, Sun and Rainbows, and even has some traces of primitive Space-rock.
There's also some more laid back material like Ashes and Matches, which is reminiscent of Castles Made of Sand and Little Wing, while Thawed Ice is an appealing mixture of southern rock and funk.
A word to the wise too - take the trouble to track down the New Zealand CD release on Imperial and you'll be rewarded with a few bonus tracks from the London Sessions that aren't on the international version as well as three tracks by Harper's band "The Brew" from 1967-1968 which are little bit more psych-pop and a whole lot more eastern tinged and psychedelic as well as a mammoth new recording "Nava Shanti" recorded last year, which shows emphatically that Jerebine still has it.
You can listen to it here on the Drag City website.
You can buy the Imperial version on CD Here.

Father John Misty - Fear Fun

Reviewed By The Active Listener (7/10)

With seven albums already behind him it's got to be a little frustrating for J. Tillman that he's still most well known as the Fleet Foxes harmony-singing drummer.
All that should be set to change now with the release of "Fear Fun", his first release since quitting the Fleet Foxes, and first under his new moniker of Father John Misty.
Whereas his earlier albums were generally very intimate, they often suffered from feeling more like fragments than fully formed songs, and lacked the hooks that his songwriting mentors come up with on a regular basis.
The last couple of years in the Fleet Foxes however seem to have taught Tillman a thing or two about songwriting and dynamics, as "Fear Fun" is undoubtedly the most fully formed work he's come up with yet. Having Jonathan Wilson on hand to produce doesn't hurt either, I'm sure.
Lead off single "Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings" may be one of the album's most immediate tracks, but it's not really a good indicator of what to expect to find here. While the album as a whole is pretty dark lyrically, the majority of tracks are musically handled with a much lighter touch than "HFCS".
There are traces of Fleet Foxes in the harmonies on tracks like "Only Son of the Ladiesman", but the sound is generally more geared towards the early seventies Laurel Canyon sound.
There are a few notable exceptions where Tillman is more explicit with his influences. "I'm Writing a Novel" is "Subterranean Homesick Blues" reinterpreted by J.J Cale. "This is Sally Hatchett" is "White Album" era Beatles with slashing electric guitars and a big string crescendo. "Well You Can Do It Without Me" is Randy Newman singing the Kinks " Acute Schizophrenia Blues".
It's a very consistent album, which is it's only real failing - it could do with a couple of really strong songs to take it to the next level, but for the meantime this will keep me going until the next Jonathan Wilson album emerges.
You can stream the whole album below, courtesy of Sub Pop.
Buy Fear Fun on CD Here.

Houdan The Mystic - Archer's Jamboree

Reviewed By The Active Listener (8/10)

I found these guys on bandcamp recently and have been playing their debut e.p repeatedly.
With their brief band bio describing them as "Three beards playing instruments", coupled with their woodland photo shoot album cover, I expected these guys to be soothing backwoods nu-folk of the Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes persuasion.
Bad call by me it seems. Hailing from Richmond Virginia, Houdan the Mystic are a much more diverse outfit than I ever expected.
Album opener "The Men Who Own Evil Laughs" borrows liberally from the Battle's bag of tricks with it's complex post-rock prog riffery, which segues easily into a lovely vocal section which wouldn't sound out of place on a Band of Horses album.
Elsewhere Ethan Kuhn's spidery basswork suggests that Mogwai may be an influence, while Reid LaPierre's arpeggiated guitar parts on album closer "The Power of Water" recall Explosions in the Sky at their finest.
Ethan Johnstone's drums are fluid and inventive throughout, with particularly nice cymbal and hi-hat work helping to flesh out this three piece's sound.
Production quality is great, especially for an album that was apparently recorded and mixed with the help of friends for under $50.
Id like to hear more vocals, but otherwise this is a top notch first effort.
You can download it free from their bandcamp page here.

Fruits de Mer Records June 7" Releases Reviewed

I was lucky enough to receive a bundle of  four promos for Fruits de Mer's June releases in the post today and thought I'd share their contents with you.
As is the norm with this exceptional label, they're all 7" singles, the format of kings, and they're due out in the next few weeks.
You can pre-order them at www.fruitsdemerrecords.com. These releases are all very limited edition runs with no CDs or downloads so don't dilly dally or you will miss out ( and we don't want that ). There are generally less than a thousand copies of each title pressed and it's not unusual for them to sell out as pre-orders before the release date.

First up we've got a new single from the legendary Pretty Things, and rather good it is too. The a-side is a live take of "Honey, I Need" recorded in 2010 - there's a full album coming from this gig too, "The Pretty Things 1st Album Live at the 100 Club".
The b-side is an even bigger find - a newly surfaced acetate of a 1965 demo - "I Can Never Say". Lovely.
While you're at it check out "Sorrow's Children", a fabulous tribute to the Pretty Thing's "S.F Sorrow" also on Fruits de Mer ( if you're lucky enough to find a copy ).

Next up we have a split 7" from the Baking Research Station and Cranium Pie. It turns out that the Baking Research Station is made up of members of Cranium Pie which is a bit sneaky, but their take on the classic Egg track "A Visit to Newport Hospital" is so terrifyingly deranged that I'm loathe to make an issue of it. Fans of seventies Italian horror soundtracks and Deram prog of the more loopy variety will eat this up. Ditto for the b-side on which Cranium Pie pay tribute to Arzachel's " Queen St Gang". Definitely one to listen to with the lights on.

There's also a new 7" from the Lucid Dream combining their own "Hits Me Like I'm Stoned" with an excellent cover of "Try a Little Sunshine", originally by obscure UK psych freakbeat favorites The Factory.
It's psychedelia of a more modern vintage, fusing the drive of Spaceman 3 with the pleasing jangle of the Byrds. Extra points awarded for infusing "Try a Little Sunshine" with enough of their own identity to make it sound like one of their songs.

Last but certainly not least we've got my pick of the bunch, an old favorite by Nick Nicely. NME proclaimed "Hilly Fields (1892)" to be "the best psych single since the 60's" and who am I to argue? Side one of this treat features the original 1982 version in all it's glory while Side two features "Hilly Fields (The Mourning)" a brand new reimagining which ditches the cellos in favor of more acoustic guitars and a whole lot of melancholy.


Thanks to Keith from Fruits de Mer Records for the promo goodies.

Sky Picnic - Farther In This Fairytale

Reviewed By The Active Listener (8/10)

Brooklyn's Sky Picnic have been around for a little while, with their "Synesthesia" E.P being released in 2008 along with several fine single releases and then in 2010 their debut full length "Farther In This Fairytale".
German label Nasoni picked up the rights for "Farther In This Fairytale" last year and released it on vinyl, and better late than never I stumbled across their bandcamp page last week and have been playing "Farther" pretty much on a continuous loop since.
Unlike the majority of modern psychedelia which generally shows the influence of more recent musical developments, drone and shoegaze in particular, "Farther In This Fairytale" gives one the impression that the members of Sky Picnic have never listened to an album recorded after 1972.
This is blissfully pure psychedelic pop / rock with an unescapeably English twinge and just the right amount of progressive rock thrown in for good measure. "Hide & Seek" is a dead ringer for Kaleidoscope - think "(Further Reflections) In The Room of Percussion" or "Flight To Ashiya" and you're on the right track.
Elsewhere there's plenty of traces of the more exploratory side of Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd, although the seagull guitars and keyboard interplay more often sounds like the live material the Floyd were working on in 1969 that can be found on bootlegs like "The Massed Gadgets of Auximenes".
There are even a few acoustic moments that should be quirky enough to satisfy even the most picky Incredible String Band fan.
The album's centrepiece is the sprawling "The Universal Mind Decoder", an adventurous multi part suite which mixes thrilling psych pop with experimental flights of fancy guaranteed to politely blow minds.
Available on vinyl and MP3 here.  Stream the album below.



Keep your eyes peeled for an interview with Sky Picnic's Chris Sherman in these hallowed pages very soon.

Active Listener Radio #5

The Far East Family Band

On the show this week:

Some exotic surf guitar from The Pharos, Gene Vincent, The 23rd Turnoff, David McCallum produced by David Axelrod,  fluid space rock from Japan's Far East Family Band, Donovan, Black Mountain, Elton John's original version of Madman Across The Water featuring guitar heroics from Mick Ronson, Timber Timbre, Spoon, The Minus 5 Featuring Colin Melloy, Roy Harper, Television, Emitt Rhodes, Judee Sill and some great neo-psych from Dog Age.

Click on the artist name to find out more about the album that the track is sourced from. If you wish to support this show you can buy through these links and we'll receive a little commission. 

Stream it here:

Active Listener Radio 5 by The Active Listener on Mixcloud
Artists: If you'd like to send me anything to play on the show contact me at nford150@gmail.com

The Green Pajamas - Summer of Lust

Reviewed By The Active Listener (9/10)

Recorded back in 1984 on a four track in Joe Ross' parent's attic, this is something of a holy grail to Green Pajama's fans.
Their first ever release, this was recorded shortly after Jeff Kelly and Ross met at a party and bonded over an anachronistic ( at the time )  love for the Beatles "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver". It came out on cassette in 1984 and was then released in the UK on vinyl in 1989, but has been unavailable and largely unheard since.
Green Monkey Records have come to the rescue again with the first ever CD release, which includes a couple of excellent bonus tracks and cleaned up sound courtesy of Tom Dyer.
As is often the case with 'lost' albums, "Summer of Lust" has developed a pretty stellar reputation, so I was semi-expecting this to be a case of absence makes the heart grow fonder. It turns out however, that this is one lost classic that deserves the label. Right from the very first track, "Katie Lied" it's obvious that Jeff Kelly's melodic gifts were already at their peak.
The primitive recording conditions have aged "Summer of Lust" nicely too - without all the mod cons a fully kitted out studio in 1984 could provide this sounds more contemporary than it's followup "The Book of Hours" and could conceivably have been recorded at any point between 1966 and now, which is all part of the charm.
The Beatles influence shows up on a number of tracks especially "Green Pajamas" which ends with a repeated mantra ala "Hey Jude", although "Mike Brown" shows that the Kinks were also on Jeff Kelly's radar at this point.
Joe Ross meanwhile turns in a great selection of songs which are indebted to the more adventurous side of U.K psychedelia and are more willfully wyrd. Their songwriting styles are in stark contrast but compliment each other perfectly, giving a nice balance to the early Pajama's albums which was missed a little when Ross left.
The sleevenotes with recollections from Joe Ross and Tom Dyer make fascinating reading too.
A roughly hewn but addictively melodic gem.
Buy Summer Of Lust On CD Here

Astra - The Black Chord

Reviewed By The Active Listener. (8/10)

The second album from San Diego's prog rock ambassadors does a fine job of consolidating and improving upon what was an impressive, but overlong debut in 2009's "The Weirding".
"The Black Chord" has been out for a couple of months now, but I'm only just catching up with it. I'm glad I made the effort.
"The Black Chord" trims all of the traces of extraneous jamming that occasionally undermined "The Weirding" and instead focuses on tight riffing, complex multi-part suites and even the odd chorus.
It's refreshing in this day and age to hear a contemporary prog band who aren't reliant on crossing over into metal territory to gather fans.
Instead Astra's idols seem to be the holy triumvirate of King Crimson, Yes and Pink Floyd, and they do an admirable job of evoking the masters without ever sounding derivative.
Walls of mellotrons help recreate the vintage atmosphere, with soaring Gilmouresque lead guitar and treated vocals ala Hawkwind also doing their part. There's also a genuine epic stoner prog anthem in album closer " Barefoot In The Head" which stomps, struts and soars in all the right places.
Definitely one for those disillusioned with modern prog rock, but also ballsy enough for the younger crowd. They're working their way towards a masterpiece, and at this rate the next one could be it.
For the time being however, this will do nicely.
Buy The Black Chord On CD Here.