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Review: Sand Snowman – The World’s Not Worth It (2011)

admin — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:00:53 +0000

artist: Sand Snowman
release: The World’s Not Worth It
format: LP, 2xCD
year of release: 2011
label: Tonefloat
duration: 43:09

detailed info: discogs.com

It’s always a great pleasure to be able to follow an artist from humble beginnings to a wonderful present. Sand Snowman is one of those artists who I’ve been lucky enough to follow since the first release Moth Dream, five years ago. Since that time, Sand has refined his style of psychedelic folk to a high degree. His early compositions where a bit too incoherent at times, not all elements working together all the time, but this has changed in his latest few albums, all of which were excellent.

Two Way Mirror, released on tonefloat over two years ago, was already a great work, with wonderful experimental elements on piano and acoustic guitar, a mixture of song and soundscape. Last year’s Nostalgia Ever After on Beta-lactam Ring was an experimental return into the psychedelic folk rock territory of Moth Dream, but Sand returns to calmer shores with this year’s followup.

The World’s Not Worth It is an uncommonly strong work in itself, with a wonderful flow of atmospheres and melodies. The opening track is slightly mysterious and ominous, and sets the tone with a nostalgic combination of fingerpicked melody, flute, and Moonswift‘s dreamy vocals. “Ice and Rainbows” adds gentle drums, bass, and a bit of electric guitar into the equation, as well as a longer, more drawn out composition, whilst retaining the original and magical mood. ”Under the Stares” shines because of its great piano work, comprising some wonderful improvisation as well as a very memorable returning theme. “A Life Rehearsed” once again features Steven Wilson on guest vocals, and it is the most traditionally song-like track on the album, a gently flowing progressive folk/rock track.

After this more intense central track, we return to a more contemplative mode with “Regal Season”, a great mysterious piece for piano, guitar, dreamy flute, and voice (Moonswift again), crowned by a fingerpicked solo near the ending. “Events in a Skyline” is even more wonderful, a tranquil instrumental mainly based on piano, with a distinct jazzy touch, opening up wonderful vistas in your mind. This is one of those tracks with a power of its own that’s always there, within the album, but also separate, as a work onto itself. The closing track adds a touch of psychedelic folk rock to finish the album off with a quirky touch.

Lots of words for the main album, which comes highly recommended for lovers of psychedelia and folk. But of course, there are some extras to this tonefloat release. The LP edition comes with a bonus CD copy, but more importantly, the 2CD edition has a bonus album entitled Vanished Chapters. If it’s anything like the dreamy soundscapes of The Magpie House, which accompanied the 2CD edition of Two Way Mirror, it’s very much worth your time.

Reviewed by O.S.

Tracklist:

1. Samhain Rain – Arise (4:05)
2. Ice and Rainbows (7:12)
3. Under the Stares (9:24)
4. A Life Rehearsed (6:21)
5. Regal Season (4:42)
6. Events in a Skyline (5:58)
7. The Rebel’s Rulebook (5:27)

Review: (tf100) – tf100 (2011)

admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:43:02 +0000

artist: (tf100)
release: tf100
format: book, 2x 10″ vinyl
year of release: 2011
label: tonefloat
duration: 42:39

To celebrate its 100th anniversary (i.e. 100 releases), Dutch Tonefloat Records organised a festival and created a book chronicling the history of the label. Over the years, the label has come to be known for its unique philosophy and musical style (broadly defined as combinations of psychedelic, ambient, and experimental music in many forms) , and its dedication to the artists and the presentation of the releases. A book is therefore a lovely way to showcase these aspects of the label. And the result is lovely: a hardback with loads of images spread throughout its 108 pages, and something that caters to lovers of both records and books. Two sample pictures can be found here and here.

If that wasn’t enough, of course there is an auditory side to the release as well, in the form of seven tracks spread across two 10″ records, all unique and exclusive collaborations by a number of prolific Tonefloat artists. The first two tracks are taken care of by Sand Snowman, Steven Wilson and Theo Travis as a trio. As one might expect, the result is a nebulous, laid-back mixture of ghostly acoustic and ambient, and even a bit of tango on “Trevail”. “California Falling” is another dreamy song, this time Wilson together with Moonswift, Dirk Serries and Peter van Vliet. The fourth track continues in the same direction, but without Moonswift. Van Vliet then breaks the flow with the funky electronica piece “Through the Eyes of the Duck”. The last two tracks are back into ambient territory again, with Sand Snowman and Wilson pairing up for a long raga-lige piece dedicated to John Fahey, and Serries and Maarten van der Vleuten working together on the excellent “Murmlefish”. Particularly this final and new collaboration really has some chemistry,and is perhaps something to consider expanding towards future projects. Both artists are gifted and subtle composers, and in this rich track, with its hopeful melodic flow and varied instrumentation, this really comes to the fore.

All in all, a worthy piece to celebrate this anniversary, and pretty much essential for anyone who has followed the label, but also worth looking into for the music alone. Like I said, Tonefloat is a label that does not compromise when it comes to selecting its artists, and that shows from what some of them have put together for the occasion.

Reviewed by O.S.

Tracklist:

1. Like Charcoal (9:07)
2. Trevail (1:27)
3. California Falling (4:26)
4. Pale Ghostlike Friend (3:59)
5. Through the Eyes of the Duck (2:46)
6. Song for John Fahey (11:19)
7. Murmlefish (9:35)

Review: Sand Snowman – Two Way Mirror (2009)

admin — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:00:16 +0000

CD cover

LP cover

artist: Sand Snowman
release: Two Way Mirror
format: 2xCD / LP
year of release: 2009
label: tonefloat
duration: 1:27:10

detailed info: discogs.com.

Things have been going fast for Sand Snowman in the past few years. The london-based Irish guitarist and composer has gone from several obscure MP3 and CDr releases to much more, evidenced by the rerelease of the albums “i’m not here” and The Twilight Game on vinyl by tonefloat records. This cooperation proves to be a fruitful one, as this, the new album, is again released by the Dutch label, this time both on double CD and the good old high-quality vinyl. The 2CD is a premiere for tonefloat, which is traditionally a vinyl label, and it includes a bonus album called The Magpie House. This is also the edition under review here.

The change from very limited releases to a more professional output coincides with the musical growth of Sand Snowman. He was searching for a unique development of his own sound on the earlier works, which contained some imperfections still. Two Way Mirror, however, marks the project’s maturation. The style is essentially the same: acoustic guitar compositions ranging from the folky and ambient to the experimental and modern classical-influenced. Added to this are subtle synths, flute, piano, percussion, and a varied range of (sometimes polyphonic) vocals. Moonswift has been a returning singer on earlier albums, but this time she is joined by the likes of Jason Ninnis and Steven Wilson on guest vocals. The male vocals add a great amount of new moods to the already quite varied sound of the project.

The main album itself is not too long, fitting easily on one LP, but contains a very nice range of musical styles, wavering between progressive folkrock, experimental ambient, and much more. The bonus disc is also quite worthwhile, expanding on the instrumental compositions by Sand. It is not as catchy or upfront as the main part, perhaps, but its dreamlike ambient quality is very good nonetheless. So good in fact, that it seems a shame that it is only avaiable in CD version. I love vinyl, and tonefloat vinyls are made with love as well, so in a way it’s too bad you have to miss out on The Magpie House is you opt for the LP. A consolation is the fact that the CD edition is housed in what is basically a mini-gatefold made out of sturdy cardboard, and with excellent layout by Carl Glover. In that sense, it feels like a tiny double LP.

Regardless, it’s safe to say that Two Way Mirror is Sand’s best album to date, and a testament to his unique style of playing and composing. The album is a truly original work of modern acoustics, and highly recommended to anyone who is open to a mixture of prog, folk, and ambient.

Reviewed by O.S.

Tracks:

Two Way Mirror:
1.1 The Butcher’s Hook (5:49)
1.2 I Spy (3:45)
1.3 Faded Flowers (5:21)
1.4 A Vision On The Green (2:43)
1.5 Matryoshka, Muse Of Misrule (1:51)
1.6 Mirrors (8:23)
1.7 Riverrun (2:48)
1.8 Neurotic Zoo (3:27)
1.9 Kites (4:48)

The Magpie House:
2.1 The Tower (9:15)
2.2 Magpie House (3:12)
2.3 The Memory Box (7:10)
2.4 Harlequin (3:51)
2.5 Lammas Meadow (2:31)
2.6 Quarter Circle (5:00)
2.7 Earth Inferno (4:31)
2.8 Untitled (12:45)

Review: Sand Snowman – Flicker Fading Spark (2007)

admin — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 23:00:14 +0000

artist: Sand Snowman
release: Flicker Fading Spark
format: MP3
year of release: 2007
label: Woven Wheat Whispers
duration: 12:03

detailed info: discogs.com

Some of our readers might remember I wasn’t thoroughly impressed with Sand Snowman‘s first album, Moth Dream. Well, since then, a new album has appeared (I’m Not Here), which I haven’t heard yet. This EP is the follow up of that album, and the third release on Woven Wheat Whispers, and I must say, I find some great improvement here.

Sand Snowman has managed to hold on to the typical mix of folk and proggy acoustics, but this time around, it works seamlessly. Since the last album, Sand has called in the aid of female singers Nix and Moonswift, the last of which appears on the opening track of this EP. So, what do we hear? Expert acoustic guitar fingerpicking, subtle bass and percussion, some electric guitar and FX, and finally Moonswift’s soft, dreamy vocals. Many of the elements are the same as on the first album, but somehow it all just works better, and sounds more original.

“Magpie Eye” is all instrumental, and starts off quite fast with another great guitar melody. Later in the track, it slows down a bit, blanketed in reverb-drenched piano and other string instruments. The final, short track is also instrumental, but it features wordless vocals by Moonswift again. A very relaxed track, which somehow stresses that quaint old school prog feeling again.

All in all, a fine EP, and a nice teaser for the new album, The Twilight Game, which was also recently released on WWW. Probably it’s due to some common influence, but this also reminds me of Opeth‘s acoustic works. So, if you like that as well, and/or just psychy and proggy folk, check this one out.

Reviewed by O.S.

Tracklist:

1. The Last Candle (5:41)
2. Magpie Eye (3:54)
3. Fading Spark (2:28)