reissues of psych folk / folkrock : Sproatly Smith

Private Sproatly Smith : Pixieled (UK,2009)****'

I hardly know anything about the band. I can only say with this first near 55 minute recording they have surely delivered a professional nicely arranged psych-folk product with tracks that flow into one another through meandering improvisations and songs that take its place. Instruments used are glockenspiel, flute, acoustic guitar, slide-guitar, reverb guitar, wah-wah guitar effects, some violin and sitar and harmonium, parts with analogue synths arrangements, lots of zither, environmental collages with sea shores, water and making ramblings, a small part with tube flutings, some breathing and with some songs appearing more often, arranged with a beautiful acid-folk female voice or male voice and some spoken word referring to fairy tale/literature story telling. I hear a beautiful version of Gwydion(?) 's “Flowers Made Of Winter” and of “a leaf must fall”. Highly recommended. Please release this on LP/CD! ( I have airplayed a large part of it in my 2 hour 2 weekly show).

Info & audio : http://www.myspace.com/sproatlysmith

Reverb Worship Sproatly Smith : The Yew and the Hare (UK,2009,re.2010)****'

The band's second release is now officially “released” as 50 cdrs only. Here they continue in their style and qualitative arrangements. Picking foundations work like meandering rivers and pathways to go from story to story, like one large concept in parts which hang together by the landscape, with traditionals or other songs with enough time to explore and describe the landscape through the instrumental parts. In these settings we hear birds and sheep (mixed with human voices). The songs themselves become a dedication to love and nature. We have story teller somewhere, sweet acoustic arrangements that include parts that imitate that nature (wind chimes, whirlings,..). The acoustic guitar is combined with reverb guitar, flute and violin and such, and the vocals also received treatments of arrangements. One of the recognisable songs is “Gentle Johnny” with pickings and electric guitar, flute and mouth harmonica, which received a special treatment because we hear the results of gentle-Johhny's behaviour in Jane's changes in breathing and voice (!??). Elsewhere I think to hear real nymphs singing ; thus it becomes like a neo-pagan celebration based upon a wider cultural English background. Also this second release is wonderful. It should be released properly someday, because if this was released in the 70s people would say that these two albums are amongst the old classics.

Info & audio : http://www.myspace.com/sproatlysmith

Reverb Worship Sproatly Smith : The minstrel's grave (UK,2011)****'

I don’t really understand why an album like this is only printed in a few copies on cdr only, because when it would be on vinyl and released as an early 70s album, which to a degree it could have been, I am sure it would sell well. I am always pleased to hear new releases of this band and this surely is another very good one that makes the return of the magical folk years of those days reappear, just slightly different but not too unusual compared to bands of The Owl Service, United Bible Studies and such, it has an extra touch of thoughtful experimentation, expressed with an increased area aka Wickerman. The lead folk voice is absolutely wonderful. There are many arrangements added with subtle touches you really have to listen carefully to hear all the instruments being used on top of the lead guitars, which besides glockenspiel and flute reveal also some electric violin, double bass, accordion and even sitar, and a fuzz guitar used as a droning theme instrument in the way of a hurdy-gurdy (6), and who knows what else. There’s also use of a few small collage ideas. “Song for Annie Needham” starts with an old fashioned doorbell of some grocery store with the sounds of people coming in. Elsewhere there are birds and owl sounds, or a campfire. It is “silver threads among the gold” which is based upon a great collage with a small element of Hammond organ, an old folk voice, dog barking, a special 20s/30s vocal record, some old time brass and so on woven together with the theme of a musical box. The lead voice is treated in a few different ways, like a beautiful folk singer voice, one a bit more ethereal in a Marissa Nadler way, then with beautiful harmony-driven vocal overdubs, at times hanging around it like friendly ghosts, or with a second male voice. The songs sound like folk traditionals, sound a bit familiar but not all them are from obvious sources. The songs refer to original performances and songs by Maddy Prior, Alex Harvey, Rev Baring-Gould and even The Pretty Things (the beautiful song “death”). The band is really talented in arranging and bringing together the songs, this listens like a flmic collection of expressions. Especially a longer track like “the fabled hare/ Isobel Goudie” reveals how well they can combine themes together into one flow of a composition. Highly recommended.

This is hand numbered cdr edition of 100 copies. Please release this in a more decent format!

Audio on http://sproatlysmith.bandcamp.com/album/the-minstrels-grave

Band info : http://www.reverbnation.com/sproatlysmith & http://www.myspace.com/sproatlysmith

Info : http://reverbworship.com/first.html

Other review : http://www.normanrecords.com/cd/129218-sproatly-smith-the-minstrels-grave

& http://www.terrascope.co.uk/Reviews/Reviews_November_11.htm#SproatlySmith