Harvestman
In A Dark Tongue
(CD / 2 LP - NR065)
Total Running Time: 70 minutes (approx)
Track listing:
- World Ash
- Karlsteine
- Birch-Wood Bower
- By Wind and Sun
- Music of the Dark Torrent
- Eibhli Ghail Chiuin Ni Chearbhail
- Headless Staves of Poets
- The Hawk of Achill
- Carved In Aspen
- Light Cycle
- In A Dark Tongue
- Centre of the World
Long known for blazing psychedelic guitar trails in the heavy music realm, Steve Von Till once again turns his attention to a world of pure yet abstract psychedelic rock guitar for his Harvestman project. This second record is even more loosely hung upon the framework of traditional music, these works are distilled and distorted into something else entirely. Traditional melodies and tunes lay lovingly wrecked and ruined in the wake of rediscovery. While it may be blasphemy to the folk purists, this odd brew is sonic heaven for heads that dream to the drone of fuzz guitar. While these recordings contain a heavy dose of the subtle sounds and textures that we've come to recognize as distinctly "Neurot" in tenor, this is yet another window on the inner working of Von Till's psyche- or at least some of what goes on in his private studio late at night.
Von Till, considers In A Dark Tongue a venture into a past that one would rather imagine, more than an attempt to authentically represent its origins. The album's surreal sound could best be described as if you're watching Hawkwind, but you hear Fairport Convention in the distance. And then, Tangerine Dream's colossal bank of synthesisers begin to mutate the sounds of Pentangle and Steeleye Span while Skullflower, Caspar Brotzman and Loop pass by, attempting to drown them out with massive amplifiers to pay homage to the druidic stones. It is a massive meeting point of styles and influences, all of which boil down to a very pure and inspired sound. This second outing by Von Till as Harvestman features guest performances by Al Cisneros (OM) and Alex Hall (Grails).