Saturday, 10 December 2011

Albums of 2011 : Numbers 16 and 15



....in which we get all folky and introspective.


16 - Loch Lomond : Little Me Will Start a Storm

The Portland, Oregon, band kicked up a quiet storm with this lovely record, their fourth full-length. Combining the lush instrumentation and harmonies of Sufjan Stevens, Arcade Fire and The Decemberists, and with Ritchie Young's voice calling to mind Michael Stipe, Colin Meloy and Jonathan Meiburg, such a mix was unlikely to fail. Whether it's the slowly rousing 'Blood Bank' or the fragile gems of 'Elephants and Little Girls' and 'Egg Song', the beauty unfolded slowly on what was the definitive "grower" of 2011.


15 - Fleet Foxes : Helplessness Blues

Things got darker and broodier on Fleet Foxes' second album, but at the same time the brilliance of Robin Pecknold's song writing seemed to double and strengthen. This album delved deeper into folk and blues territory, songs lasted longer and were allowed to meander and make fascinating diversions. At times it was almost a Pecknold solo record, but the instrumental passages showed that this was very much a band effort, from a bunch of guys who still have so much to give. Stunning.

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