The Woodcraft Folk came to life five years ago when
Alan Outram got himself an old Roland SH09 synthesizer
and began exploring its potential. The result is this
beautiful self-titled debut album, containing seventeen
instrumentals. Here, Outram combines discreet electronics
and a wide range of acoustic instruments to create superbly
evocative little vignettes, all working independently
from each other, yet all contributing to the cinematic
effects of this album.
Kicking off his delightful collection with a gentle
acoustic guitar on Love The Monk, Outram builds
up some momentum by progressively wrapping a beat structure
and layers of mixed electronic and acoustic sounds around
a recurring melodic line. This very much sums up what
is to be expected from the rest of this album, yet,
Outram creates something totally unique and distinct
with each new track. The Woodcraft Folk is
at once very consistent and surprisingly eclectic. Tones
are applied with parsimony, only to highlight a particular
twist in the melody or a slight change of mood. The
coarse stylophone that closes an Old House At Home
Pt. 1 becomes central to the following track, but
the ambience rapidly becomes more melancholic with the
short Not Give Me That Noise and Tracy
Finger. Later on, Outram crafts another stunning
piece with Willow Beauty, once again layering
electronic textures over an acoustic guitar, while the
delicate Milk Float evokes distant memories
of Africa. These subtle changes of directions, while
never interfering with the general make-up of this record,
provide the listener with constant renewed focus.
The wide range of instruments used to dress each composition,
from glockenspiel and xylophone to melodica, stylophone,
guitars and bells, contributes to this album feeling
cleverly diverse and pertinent, yet Outram manages his
influences extremely well, ensuring that it is his personality
that shines through his music.
The Woodcraft Folk, of which only 150 copies
are currently available, each coming in a hand made
sleeve featuring a drawing by Buenos Aires resident
Pablo Giminez Zapiola, will benefit of a full release
on Earworm Records later on in the year, yet, the nature
of this DIY release fits most perfectly with the music
and is well worth hunting down.
3.8/5 |
