English Garden
The Rabbit's Hat : BBC related acoustic sessions (UK,2002)*°
Unfortunately I don't know the other (electric) releases from Tim Jones and Terri B., that would have get some acquaintance in the UK underground scene. It might be especially the interest for and attention of these recordings that led to the publishing of these acoustic live at the BBC recordings. Not having heard the electric recordings I can only judge this music standing on its own. The cover looks promising to me, and knowing it has been published on folk related label, I am reminded of private psychedelic folk recordings. But it's nothing of the sort. It's song oriented music, with acoustic guitars. On the first three tracks this is with very simple chords and duo singing. The melodies of these songs sound mainstream, pop like. Luckily it changes after that. "Hieronymus" has finger picking guitar. Such an approach with acoustic forms makes much more sense. Also "Say Yes", almost 7 minutes long, with extra environmental sounds, is much more enjoyable. The songs itself have indie rock melody lines, 80's like, but at the same time there's a slight magical folk touch in at least some songs that I can understand the mood of the front cover drawing and why English Garden might have reissued this. Most of it is not my cup of tea. But various songs make it up for me. "Infra Red" for instance, has really nice duo vocals and quiet finger picking, some hand percussion. Also in the following song we can hear this sweet kind of vocal arrangements nicely fitting with the song. Most of the songs however don't appeal to me.
I heard some of the groups other releases now (except the Nick Drake tribute album). Mostly the group has no reference to any wyrd/acid etc. folk style. Their usualy style is more a kind of vaguely inspired(?) alternative music. The "best" release I heard so far from these was "Outsiders"*.
