Review: Carpet of Fallen Leaves serves as the luminous introduction to Eddie Marcon, a folk-pop project from Eddie Corman and Jules Marcon. The collection takes in more than two decades of intimate, self-released recordings that all bring fragile beauty and melodic grace from Japan's underground psych-folk scene. Gentle guitar, soft organ and deft bass interlace with pristine vibraphone, flute and pedal steel sounds to form sparse and spare yet intricate arrangements. Collaborators like Ikuro Takahashi and Shintaro Sakamoto add their own contributions, and so songs shimmer with a real emotional depth and Eastern charm. Highlights like 'Tora To Lion' and 'Shoujo' inspire quiet wonder while capturing fleeting moments of everyday life with a real tenderness and elegance.
Review: The first-ever vinyl reissue of a rare folk treasure from Shelagh McDonald, featuring Richard & Danny Thompson, Keith Christmas, and members of Mighty Baby & Fotheringay in the back. First released in 1971 and produced by the legendary Sandy Roberton, Stargazer has earned a devoted following for its blend of folk, psychedelia, and adventurous production, which spruce up McDonald's exquisite songwriting and puce, haunting vocals. Fans of Pentangle, Incredible String Band, and Joni Mitchell will find much to love, as will admirers of David Crosby's 'If Only I Could Remember My Name' and Gene Clark's 'No Other'. A long-overdue reissue, this one also marks the debut for Different Strokes For Different Folks, a new label dedicated to unearthing rare and cult classics, with more set for 2025.
Review: The long-awaited follow up to 2018's Delta, London indie-folk megastars Mumford & Sons return after a seven-year gap (their longest between releases yet) to chart a course back to their original path. Titled Rushmere after a pond located at Wimbledon Common in London, where the band was first formed and music was conceived, their fifth LP marks their first as a trio, following the departure of Winston Marshall in 2021 (who for some bizarre reason opted to allow his politics to prioritise his success and now makes appearances on Fox News). Where the members had gone to lengths previously to shy away from their folk-pop stylings in search of a "new sound", here it's evident that Marcus Mumford and his cohorts have finally become comfortable with their position within the modern music landscape, dusting off the obligatory banjo for the triumphantly anthemic title-track, while the melancholic 'Where It Belongs' utilises weaving, minimalist acoustic melodies and deeply affecting vocal harmonies to conjure a sense of quiet acceptance. In short, this is the most Mumford & Sons the troupe have sounded since their acclaimed 2009 debut Sigh No More.
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