Graham Reid | | <1 min read
Arrows
British folkadelic singer-songwriter first came to attention at Elsewhere last year with her sixth (sixth?) album Modern Kosmology – one of our Best of Elsewhere 2017 choices – which had its feet in the past (Krautrock, Sixties psychedelic drones and alt.folk) but seemed to be gazing at the stars through electronica-tinted glasses.
This reissue of her 2014 album shows how consistently she had staked out her own turf: the thrilling eight minute opener Argent (after the 45 second title track soundscape) is closer to classic Hawkwind and a folk-psyche take on Can than you could imagine from someone often styled neo-folk.
She is on record as saying her friends' brother had space-rock albums which somehow merged with her discovery of Kate Bush and disco . . . and you can hear all of that – and more – in these 10 dreamy but focused songs on an album which takes its title from a seldom seen late Eighties Polish sci-fi/messiah film.
She also writes driving synth-powered pop (The Electric Mountain), seductive cinematic soundscapes (Arrows with David Holmes), rinky-dink pop (Don't Take My Soul) and, yes, acoustic-framed neo-folk (the soaring Stealing Gold where the Kate Bush reference becomes clearer).
Themes from sci-fi, fairytales, dreams and illusions abound.
Available on limited edition clear vinyl and CD, The Silver Globe should appeal to those who have enjoyed Modern Kosmology and its remixes, trippy rock like Seattle's Sky Cries Mary, Ash Ra Tempel and those along the Hawkwind/Hawklords axis.
As with our previous review: recommended.
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