The last Trembling Bells album I listened to,’ The Constant Pageant’ I ended up confused as to what the band were trying to get across to the listener. Folk, Rock, Prog? .. I think I decided it was a mixture of all of these in the end.
On ‘The Marble Downs’ which is a welcome collaboration with Bonnie Prince Billy. all that confusion evaporates. This is dark psychedelic folk with only lyrics you would expect from the great man out front and beautiful, crystal clear vocals from Lavinia Blackwall of The Trembling Bells to match. This certainly is an accomplished record.
It’s a ‘grower’ for sure, but two or three listens and it’s under your skin and in your consciousness. Songs like the opener, Made a Date (With An Open Vein), the break-up ‘I Can Tell You're Leaving’ and who could resist Love Is A Velvet Noose. All the songs and the album as a whole are really intriguing.
The connection between the two participants is Trembling Bells' drummer and principal songwriter Alex Neilson and goes back to 2005, when Alex was playing drums on Alasdair Roberts 'No Earthly Man, with
Try it, it’s special
9/11
Pete
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I Made a Date (With An Open Vein)
I Can Tell You're Leaving
Ferrari In A Demolition Derby
Ain't Nothing Wrong With A Little Longing
Excursions Into Assonance
Every Time I Close My Eyes (We're Back There)
Love Is A Velvet Noose
My Husband's Got No Courage In Him
Riding
Lord Bless All