Musik / folk

Into the greenwood


Anmeldelser (2)


The observer

d. 23. aug. 2015

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Neil Spencer

d. 23. aug. 2015

"Trees, woods and forests play a major role in folklore and folk song, where paeans to oak, ash, thorn and holly are commonplace. Here, south London bard Nigel Hoyle reasserts the tradition with a set of original numbers promising "a journey through the old woods of England"; among them Brighton's elms, Kent's service trees and Dartmoor's oaks. Guitar, fiddle, cello, flute and shruti box (a hand-held harmonium) provide a slightly rickety, drone-heavy backdrop for the vocals of Hoyle and Sarah Lloyd. It's a consciously quaint sound, but also charming and at times mesmeric, redolent of the "weird folk" of Tunng and the Incredible String Band, with tree magic, Green Man and faerie folk in the narrative".


Folking.com

d. 5. sep. 2015

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Dai Jeffries

d. 5. sep. 2015

"There have always been bands that ignore the conventional way of doing things. Back in day it was Comus, Amazing Blondel and Incredible String Band, although there were countless others. Now it's The Owl Service and Trembling Bells. To those names add that of GentleFolk ... There are eighteen titles but, in reality, it is a single piece of music. The songs are linked by accompanied narration but these blend seamlessly into the songs. The story is essentially that of a journey around the ancient woodlands of southern England ... You're thinking "concept album" and you're absolutely right but what a concept. It's about conservation, history and mythology. It's enough to make you bundle up and kick through the fallen leaves of autumn searching for fairy rings - but be wary of 'The Hidden People' - and think yourself back in time. Musically, it is all acoustic and complex but with a sense of freedom that matches the songs ... Nigel's guitar sounds quite mediæval and I'm agog to see the band live just to watch him play those lead lines ... I'm rather taken with GentleFolk".