Scowlin' Owl, “a rootin' tootin' proper folk band”, well 'These Strange Companions' is far more than that. Very sweet harmonies and a great assortment of instrumentation are the foundations for what may be best described as gritty European Americana.
‘Message From The Psalms’ is the opener of this lengthy debut EP. The song is inspired by the 1950s film, Night of the Hunter, featuring Robert Mitchum and is sung with power and passion. The song takes no prisoners, Acoustic guitar, drums, and a wailing violin with an Eastern European twang.
The title song, ‘These Strange Companions’ and ‘Grey’ (about squirrels) takes us on a gentler pace into Staves and Smoke Fairies like comparisons
Nina Lovelace, the band’s lead singer and songwriter really has come up with some interesting song ideas; ‘Poker Alice’ inspired by the real life Poker Alice who lived in America in the late 1800s whilst, ‘Mifune’ is a song about the relationship between Japan's most famous actor Toshiro Mifune and film director Akira Kurosawa.
Every song is intriguing and the stories told, really hold your attention, indeed, 'Sugawara And The Sunflower' the final song on the EP is about how a Japanese fisherman who survived the 2011 tsunami by sailing his boat up and over the waves..
Scowlin Owl is Nina Lovelace (vocals, guitar, flute), Yvonne Bordon (vocals, guitar, mandolin), Karina Zakri (vocals, acoustic bass), and Sally Gainsbury (violin, vocals).
Their EP, 'These Strange Companions' is due for release on 23rd November. You can listen to some songs and order the EP on BandCamp HERE
There are London dates for the band next month as well;
Fri 15 Nov The Crown Leytonstone
Sat 23 Nov Jamboree London
Fri 07 Feb Golden Hinde London
Pete
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