Far Black Farlong - S/t [Icr Distribution - 0000]Far Black Farlong's 3rd self titled album takes the listener on a heady sometimes haunted, but always magical journey over morphing landscapes and changing seasonal climates with an original mix of classical,ambient, folk drone and lighter post-rock elements The projects distinctive and original sound certainly comes in a large part from the unusual mix of instrumentation on offer with oboe by Mark Baigent, dulcimer played by John Letcher, Amanda Votta on flute (of The Floating World), Guitars by Ian Tengwall & Andy Cotterill on electronics. As well as spoken word elements from Shropshire poet Bryony Lees- plus other elements by composer Richard Moult, and field recordings- literal in some case as you can clear hear the rich sound of wind swept fields as much of the material was recorded in outdoor settings such as the barley fields of the Clun Forest on the Welsh Borders, though it sounds like these have been manipulated to a certain extent later. Though the albums split into six tracks it really flows as one long evolving and changing soundscape, All starting off first with a haunting and melancholy oboe & dulcimer playing with the sound of walking through long grass along with other sound elements & Bryony Lees reading beautiful picturesque text over the top. As the album progresses they take you on an effortless, beautiful and haunted sound journey that mangers to be hypnotic, rich and melodic. Really bringing to mind moving through different lands and seasons, if you close you eyes you can almost see the changing landscapes, rolling hills & changing seas off in the distance - almost smelling and tasting the evocative world brought to life here. An highly accomplish musically, textural and atmospheric work- to find out more go to here. Roger Batty
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