From: jason robbins
[tofutastic_at_hotmail_dot_co_dot_uk]
Sent: 01 September 2008 18:20
Subject: FW: TWISTED FOLK PRESENTS..THE OWL
SERVICE
Attachments: Owl Service 2.jpg
TWISTED FOLK
PRESENTS…
THE
OWL SERVICE
LIVE AT ORANGE STREET
MUSIC CLUB
CANTERBURY NOVEMBER
8TH
8PM £5
admission
Special double ticket available for £7.50, gains
you entry to THE OWL SERVICE, and the SHARRON KRAUS gig on Oct 24th.
Tel: 01227 760801
The Owl Service
was formed by Steven Collins in 2006 as a vehicle to explore his love of British
films and television of the 1960s and 70s, the great outdoors and the sound of
the English folk revival. The band fuse traditional British folk ballads with
elements of psychedelic rock and recall the great acid-folk bands of the late
'60s/early '70s but never once sound contrived or overtly retro. Nobody has
approached traditional folk quite like this for over 30 years. They signed to
Southern Records at the end of 2007 and their debut album A Garland of Song, an
eclectic selection of traditional material interspersed with mostly instrumental
originals, was released on June 30th 2008. An EP recorded with Alison O'Donnell
(formerly Alison Williams of legendary Irish '70s prog/folk band Mellow Candle)
entitled The Fabric of Folk will be released by Static Caravan in September
2008. The follow up to Garland... is underway with the working title The Pattern
Beneath the Plough and is set for a Summer 2009 release
Music Week review
The folk revival continues apace with this debut album from Steven Collins
and his cohorts.
A Garland Of Song is an unashamedly retro affair which sets
out to recreate the atmosphere of the late Sixties acid folk scene and succeeds
admirably. This is, of course, a great folk tradition; the scene always looks
over its shoulder to a more innocent pastoral time, all the while adding touches
of the modern age.
With The Owl Service it is in the nature of the recording,
mostly self produced and recorded at home, that wins out. This set features a
swathe of atmospheric touches that prevent the album from becoming an exercise
in fakery.
The standards and murder ballads presented here are all lovingly
arranged and beautifully sung by Collins and guests, and these are matched by
the original instrumentals that pepper the album.
The Owl Service will be a
highlight at this year's Green Man festival as they have tempted Alison
O'Donnell from Mellow Candle out of the woodwork to perform with them, another
dream come true for Collins no doubt.
A Garland Of Song is obviously a labour
of love and is beautifully crafted and realised, and fans of Espers or The
Memory Band are sure to adore it. But next time it would be good to see Collins
stretch his production techniques further and use his obvious talents to look
forwards as well as back. Owen Lawrence
Get Hotmail on your mobile from Vodafone Try it
Now
Get Hotmail on your mobile from Vodafone Try it
Now