Album Review
Feldspar – The Flat And Paper Sky, Volume 2
London based alt-folk band Feldspar released their debut EP just a couple of months back. The Flat And Paper Sky, Volume 1 was a fine collection of songs with poetic lyrics, great instrumental work and Will Green’s wonderfully passionate vocal delivery. I’m pleased to be able to report that Volume 2 very much lives up to the high standards set.
Opening with the short title track, The Flat And Paper Sky is a vocal tour de force. Two minutes of building vocal harmonies create a rich and warm texture. It’s so good that it took several listens for me to notice that there is almost no instrumentation in the track at all. The vocals combine to create a big sound, yet each voice can be picked out individually. This is a really fine piece of work.
Bright Blue Eyes is a much more expansive track, starting from a folk base and then building through great vocals towards full on rock with a wonderful guitar solo. The even tone of the lead vocals and some more fine harmonies give a fervent and deep longing to the song. It has a harder edge than most of Feldspar’s music so far, and it works well.
Foolish Man takes the pace down with a more traditional acoustic folk song. There’s a world weary feeling here, a lament for lost love. And, as the lyrics tell us, “It’s only the lonely know how to sing the blues.” This is a simple track in the main and powerful because of its reliance on the lyrics. But the guitar takes off towards the end and another great solo roars through before the music falls again for the final verse.
After Hours closes the EP with a lament that takes its melody from the piano, the evocative playing backing the slow vocals nicely. A mournful trumpet plays a slow air, complementing the guitar to give a great ending to this lovely track.
Feldspar have a real depth to their music that is lacking in much of the suddenly trendy alt-folk field. Their poetic lyrical approach and the fine arrangements of their songs makes them stand out. The vocals are always exceptional and the great musicianship of all involved gives the music a quality that others lack.
There is an authenticity here that takes a folk music base and builds on it to create something that is both lovely and powerful. On the basis of the two EPs released so far this is a band with a bright future.
Venue: The Flat And Paper Sky, Volume 2
Support Band: Green Tape Records