After splitting in 2016 the Oxfordshire indie folk band of Brian Briggs and co return with a very fine fourth LP of clear-voiced, catchy, vivid songs themed on the fragile relationship between humans and the environment. Continuing a style reminiscent of other folk-pop artists, from Simon and Garfunkel to Villagers, this is a substantial, thought-provoking release, packed with wordplay, lovely images and melody, with added flavour and invention from producer Mike Lindsay of Tunng. Opener Trouble With The Green, using the metaphor of the formation of a painting is typically vibrant (“Trouble with the green, giving you the blues/ Mix it with the white and the colours are bright again”), as is Bag In The Wind (“Now I am a bag in the wind / I go weaving the buses and bicycles…”). Briggs is joined by the complementary voice of Fyfe Dangerfield on Anwen, and the title track is a very catchy, clanky shuffle. Other standouts include The Navigator, and the uplifting organ- and brass-infused closer Excelsior. Filled with colour, texture and tender, gentle beauty. Accompanied with a beautiful set of animated videos. Out on Cooking Vinyl.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Feel free to recommend more new albums and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or find more on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: