Released 01/03/10, Communion Records
Founded in 2009, Communion Records is an offshoot of Communion; a musical community which began as a live-music project at Notting Hill Arts Club in 2006. Primarily nu-folk based, Communion nights have now been showcased in Leeds and Brighton with a new evening set to take place at Mr. Wolfs in Bristol this month.
On March 1st Communion Records released a compilation album to demonstrate the depth of talent associated with the project and promote the live shows which aim to provide a ‘platform for the newest bands on London’s circuit.’
Included in the rather poetically grouped four chapters are acts leading the London nu-folk scene such as Marcus Foster and Mumford & Sons as well as artists just beginning to break through like Kurran and the Wolfnotes, and Rachel Sermanni.
Johnny Flynn sets the standard with the opening track; 'In The Honour of Industry' is very Flynn-esque, a charming song with finger rolls and backing strings over a humble lyric - not his best but excellent by anyone’s standard and another enchanting tune to add to the repertoire.
Sounding a little like Devandra Banhart, second up is Jay Jay Pistolet with 'Vintage Red'. This song, as with most of Pistolet’s work, sounds like it’s being played through a gramophone in the 1920’s. Musically it’s nothing special but the lyric, delivered as if a stream of consciousness, contains some excellent word play and rhyme with a Dylan reference to top it off, ‘you’re Blonde on Blonde but a whole lot better.’
With it’s haunting but simultaneously both prominent and distant vocal, Marcus Foster’s 'Circle in The Square' follows. Probably the most instantly accessible song on the album with the distinct but staggered percussion and emotive production, I’m sure it will soon join his other songs with over 100,000 plays on his MySpace rather than the mere 243 which it currently has.
For me other highlights include Alessi’s Ark enunciated delivery of 'Hands in the Sink' (free download here), Jesse Quin and the Mets’ 'The Sculptor and the Stone' and Pete Roe with 'Bellina'- a happy tune that’ll put a skip into your step as we move into Spring; ‘It’s a fine time to go outside/ It’s a fine time to travel to the sea.’
From the poignant 'Lie Down In The Blood' by Andrew Davie to Peggy Sue’s pacey 'February Snow' and from the passion, honesty and wit of Elena Tonra’s 'Peter'; as much a poem set to music as a song, to the vibrant 'Pounding' by Kurran and the Wolfnotes’, what is most apparent here is the diversity on offer.
And perhaps therein lies the beauty of the London nu-folk scene. It’s taken the technicalities and traditions of folk music and the depth of folk rock and the result is something varied and quite special. The Communion Compilation is a selection of both intricate and personal songs which, in terms of craftsmanship, a similar compilation from another genre’s upcoming artists could not hold a candle to.
http://www.communionmusic.co.uk/artists/
Posted In Album Reviews, Mar 02 2010.
Words - Lewis Dalgliesh