Downland by United Bible Studies & Jozef van Wissem

http://united-bible-studies.bandcamp.com/

" Improv Lutist and outer-fringes collaborator extraordinaire Wissem here joins hands with cult Irish types United Bible Studies. From the off this is a lush sounding record, title track 'Downland' sounding a little like James Blackshaw gone all cosmic and that with whooshing astral noises & an ominous drone being the undercurrent beneath some sweet thoughtful guitar. UBS vocalist Alison O' Donell pops up with her wide-eyed theatrical tones on the second track 'Seven Tears', a song imbued with meandering psych-rock elements under the jaunty acoustic guitar. Side one ends with a piece of stuttering, stumbling de-tuned experimentation that remains largely listenable due to its use of field recordings, intimate acoustics & blatant drunken charm. The opening track of side two sounds quite demented in a barking acid folk pixie way. Has me thinking of Comus or Gong in spirit. It's certainly a wide-eyed cyclic, gibbering sprite of a tune. Like the space invader noise throughout. You can never have too many space invader noises on a record. On the subsequent tune Wissem's feminine vocals are found fleshing-out an impassioned piece of haughty folk minimalism. The penultimate track is a more challenging, difficult beast that folds both ethereal, medieval & discordant rock elements. One for fans of Trembling Bells & the more esoteric end of Appendix Out, the closer is a magical dream-like folk-rock piece with choral vocals, chiming acoustic interplay and there's even what sounds like a hurdy gurdy in there. A cracking conclusion to a most interesting and diverse collection." - Brian, www.normanrecords.co.uk

Tracklist

1.	Downland	7:40

2.	Seven Tears	3:32

3.	Trade Boys For prostitutes Sell Girls For Wine	3:49

4.	Come Holy Ghost	3:29

5.	Altars of Brick (The Day Is Coming)	2:32

6.	Í Rith Na hÓiche	3:54

7.	The Seas Have Lifted Up Their Voice	5:27

Credits

released March 21, 2011

Released 04 April 2011

Paul Condon:
Acoustic Slide Guitar on Trade Boys For Prostitutes Sell Girls For Wine
Bass on Seven Tears, Come Holy Ghost and The Seas Have Lifted Up Their Voice.

Diarmuid MacDiarmada:
Percussion on The Seas Have Lifted Up Their Voice

Alison O'Donnell:
Percussion on Seven Tears
Vocals on Downland, Seven Tears, Come Holy Ghost, Altars Of Brick (The Day Is Coming) and The Seas Have Lifted Up Their Voice.

Áine O'Dwyer:
Harp on Downland, Seven Tears, Trade Boys For Prostitutes Sell Girls For Wine

Ivan Pawle:
Hurdy Gurdy on Downland
Synth on Downland, Seven Tears and Come Holy Ghost.

Gavin Prior:
Acoustic Guitar on Trade Boys For Prostitutes Sell Girls For Wine
Electric Guitar on Seven Tears, I Rith na hOíche and The Seas Have Lifted Up Their Voice
Feedback on Downland
Field Recordings on Trade Boys For Prostitutes Sell Girls For Wine
Percussion on I Rith na hOíche
Synth on Downland and I Rith na hOíche
Vocals on Downland and I Rith na hOíche

Jozef van Wissem:
Lute

Recorded by Diarmuid MacDiarmada, Jeffrey Perrin, Gavin Prior and Jozef van Wissem in Amsterdam, Dublin and Galway.

Mixed by Gavin Prior

Mastered By Steve Fanagan

License