Halcyon Magazine

While perusing the internet doing a google search for, “Rad Dudes,” obviously I came upon the site, “Rad Dudes.” This is one of the world’s finest collections of rad dudes I have ever seen. Gurus harnessing possessed dogs, fancy brocade leisure wear, festive cravats, peace pipes, cocaine parties in space, weird face paint, dudes in vans, awesomeness…more after the jump, but seriously. If you’re into rad dudes this place is some serious rad dude porn.

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Trembling Bells are a Glasgow based quartet that resurrect early folk-rock sounds from the misty green pastures and deep-watery wells of a Great Britain’s psychi. Their weeping willow ballads are akin to the sorrow-tainted joy of the ever reclusive sun peeking through a grey British sky; loaded with fleeting joy and pressing knowledge that the instant is transitory, doomed. I was instantly reminded of fellow Glasgow wistful pop group Belle & Sebastian, in their quiet force-but also some of the best in stripped down country-folk, in particular Fairport Convention’s Liege & Lief. Singer Lavinia’s soaring, high pitched vocals sound as if British folk singer Vashti Bunyan somehow managed to transcend her eminent shyness. In fact, in the same way Bunyan fled London town in a horse and cart for the pastures of the Isle of Skye, Trembling Bells seemingly join Donovan hand-in-hand for the revolution of folk in the western shores of Scotland. This is beautifully idyllic music tained with the fate of its own demise. Trembling Bells will be releasing a full length shortly- look out for an interview & album review.

Listen To: “I Took To You (Like Christ to Wood)”

A melancholic attempt at a love song about the fatal spells of crimson lips over ill-fated boys willingly throwing themselves into a doomed lover’s arms.

Liege & Lief is, in my mind (whatever that’s good for…), the most superior example of electric folk music ever to be recorded in this current universe, and, most likely in all of the infinite alternate universes as well. Its just one of those albums that is most absurdly astonishing in most every aspect. Its amazing! Also… nevermind. Anyways, the Fairport Convention are generally known as the inventors of the folk rock genre in England. (Although the Strawbs and the Pentangle, who also are of the genre, did also exist at the time.) The album Liege & Lief was their 4th studio album, and it was released in December of 1969.

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