And now, for something completely out of left field for some (though not necessarily me). Armed with one of the most beautifully detailed covers of 2025 comes this hard to pigeon-hole (a horrible pursuit anyway) Folk/Prog/Medieval marvel, a too short 24-minute EP though I rarely accept less than 30 minutes because of my greedy nature, I love occasional exceptions to any rule. The audition will eventually require a special moment to enjoy and a unique position in a collection, as it is quite different, and in view of the Christmas time title, I put this aside until now. Originality begets obligation. We have 6 pieces of fluid music, all vocally driven by the remarkable Sarah Lambert-Gates , combining her talent with those of instrumentalist Bones Huse (now that is a name straight out of Star Trek), bathing in streams of bucolic modern folk of the highest order.
With the spotlight firmly shining on the vocal line and the story being told, Huse crafts the most delicate acoustic guitar lattice on “Ghost Bird”, the breathy vocalizations only serving to complement the revealing simplicity of the instrumentation. The fragile rendition on “Dusty Horse” is spellbinding, creating a hazy imagery that needs no expansive bombast or technical prowess, relying on mood, ambiance and atmosphere, a sonic meadow where calm awareness rules, unhurried and unhallowed. In a murkier gloom, “Melancholy Midnight” evokes images of sadness and shadow, an underlying sense of insomnia, the resonant melody haunting enough to deny rest and yet, compelling at the same time.
The brooding liberation evoked on “Ebbe and Flow” is another brief example of how contrast can be expressed even in the simplest of contexts, voice and guitar doing the light lifting. Shimmer and glimmer.
Equally compact but in a more playful framework, “Cuckoo” suggests the serenity of a bird call that defines gentle awakening, certainly more refined than the boisterous rooster or another Alexa blast. Lovely track.
The cinematographic “Rain Bells” is the lengthiest piece as well as the most pastoral, evoking images of sleepy hamlets, ensconced in a warm forest of peaceful surroundings, ‘church bells are ringing’ in the distance, a world far removed from the urban hysterics and endless distractions. When a more elaborate follow-up occurs, I would strongly recommend this track as inspiration in constructing evocative arrangements with even more complex instrumental additions (perhaps woodwinds, harpsichord and harmonium, as examples) whilst still keeping the onus on that magical voice .
A most pleasant and restful interlude from all the boisterous Prog albums one listens to these days. Thank you, Anne-Claire of Bad Dog Promotions, for the terrific recommendation.
4 Pastoral streams