Golf Funk: May 2013

I like to think this album was recorded live, deep in a Yorkshire Dale, the band moodily standing in a vast clearing, incense burning, instruments set up in homage to Pink Floyd’s Live In Pompeii. Fender amps their monoliths, an electric Stonehenge to worship at the altar of all who have dared open 'Reader's Digest Folklore Myths and Legends of Britain'. Foxes, hares & hip badgers gather from the forest to testify to these four electric warriors. The band knowingly nod, exchanging switch-blade glances as harmonized riffs, spidery folk arpeggios get fuzzed, drums gets Bonham'd to within an inch of their life as the deep bass groove bores down to the very marrow of your bones. This musical alchemy twists Jack Sharp’s folklore lyrics into a sonic journey from 1971 to the Middle Ages & back to 2013. If you listen closely to the run out groove you can even hear one badger heckling ‘Do you know any Tull?’

Many reviews I have seen of the band reference Fairport, Mighty Baby, Jethro Tull etc, but while that may be true, there is also Sabbath, Traffic, Cream, Hendrix, Jeff Beck, and just about any other massive guitar band or folkie in rock's melting pot. (just check the bands website & FB pages for their mixtape links, & massive musical influences) Live, I hear the twin guitars of Fleetwood Mac 1969-71, from the guitar fury of The Boston Tea Party double live album, to the restrained playing of the seminal Then Play On album. Even Jack Sharp's delicate, clear folk voice occasionally has tonal fragments of Danny Kirwan's distinctive vocal. Seeing the band live is where the songs really open up and breathe. I urge you go and see them as soon as you can.

Track Listing

Empty Vessels

I imagine this to be the opening credits to a 70s sci-fi detective series starring a young Ian McShane & Hammer Horror hero David Warner. Probably cancelled after the first series.

All Returns

Funky slithery bass, intertwined Scottish folk melodies, infused with massive octo Fuzz face pedals.

When The Fire Is Dead In The Grate

Beautifully recorded, amazing backing vocals, great interplay between Jack Sharpe and guitarist Joe Hollick. Epic track.

Athol

A heavy, medieval sounding track, superb drumming from Tom Watt and fat bass from Dan Davies on this one.

Hesperus

Solid funky unswerving bass, a creeping prog journey that simmers then cuts your head off with tonebending riffs.

Answer

Sits nicely next to Hesperus, a spidery opening riff, atmospheric backing vocals, Peter Green reverb, an early 70s Pink Island Label monster.

Thief

A haunting, reasonably clean guitar toned tale of a highwayman/thief who is caught, shackled & (I assume) on his way to be tried & hanged. Excellent backing vocals really sets this song apart from the rest of the album, and give a lost nugget acid folk vibe to the track.

NRR

Wolf People kick Sabbath's teeth in & headbutt Hendrix who falls into a bearded, cloaked Peter Green.