nederlands
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Nihil Project are two Italians who are crazy about Britain, that much is sure. They also have a penchant for combining folk with psychedelia, as was already clear from their work as In Yonder Garden. Plough Plays focuses more on the traditional side of folk, but as I said, Antonello and Andrea do it their own way. On the album, they're supported by a host of other artists from the scene, such as Sedayne, Gav Dunn, The Kitchen Cynics and The Phoenix Cube.
The album starts off strongly with "Unquiet Grave", a pleasant version of a classic folk song. At the end the song develops into a version of the obligatory "Twa Corbies", that sounds as if it comes straight out of an Ennio Morricone soundtrack. A brilliant touch of Italy in between all this British folklore. "Days Of Yore" is a calm track based on harpsichord and violin, with environmental lyrics. "Weaving Wheat" is a cinematic, grand sounding track with a mix of electronics and folk atmospheres. A nice development of the Nihil Project sound.
The middle part of the album is a bit more relaxed, containing the extensive tracks "On Bennachie" and "Tissington Hall Well", as well as the great "Hobby Horse" - The Wicker Man is never far away, it seems. After a while, sadly, the atmosphere is greatly disturbed by the cheesy and entirely redundant "Aloha Song". Perhaps a bit of a gag, but for me it ruins the feeling. Thankfully there's always the 'skip' button, and we're launched straight into the exciting ritual dance "The Infinite" and the calm closing tracks.
A very original album with a couple of brilliant moments, and one big let-down. But, all in all that makes for good quality anyway. One of the most interesting psychfolk releases of the year, surely.
O.S.
The album starts off strongly with "Unquiet Grave", a pleasant version of a classic folk song. At the end the song develops into a version of the obligatory "Twa Corbies", that sounds as if it comes straight out of an Ennio Morricone soundtrack. A brilliant touch of Italy in between all this British folklore. "Days Of Yore" is a calm track based on harpsichord and violin, with environmental lyrics. "Weaving Wheat" is a cinematic, grand sounding track with a mix of electronics and folk atmospheres. A nice development of the Nihil Project sound.
The middle part of the album is a bit more relaxed, containing the extensive tracks "On Bennachie" and "Tissington Hall Well", as well as the great "Hobby Horse" - The Wicker Man is never far away, it seems. After a while, sadly, the atmosphere is greatly disturbed by the cheesy and entirely redundant "Aloha Song". Perhaps a bit of a gag, but for me it ruins the feeling. Thankfully there's always the 'skip' button, and we're launched straight into the exciting ritual dance "The Infinite" and the calm closing tracks.
A very original album with a couple of brilliant moments, and one big let-down. But, all in all that makes for good quality anyway. One of the most interesting psychfolk releases of the year, surely.
O.S.