If you’ve yet to have stumbled across the evocative sounds of The Imagined Village, you’re in for something of a treat, take a number of massive names from the folk world such as Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy and Chris Wood, add traditional middle eastern instruments sitar, dhol and tabla, add a massive electronic (or dubstep if you prefer) influence and then heat up until boiling point, to create one of the most inventive, original and contagious sounds known to man.
The concept of The Imagined Village was originally was conceived in 2004 as an experiment to see if traditional and traditional performers could unite over the songbook of the aforementioned Martin Carthy and a bring a new twist to his material. The results were a stunning success, with the group’s debut album receiving both critical and commercial success.
The second album, Bending The Dark see’s the band branching out and collaborating further on a batch of all new material whilst adding to their ranks with the addition of relative newcomer Jackie Oates on fiddle and vocals. The new full length realease once again showcases the band’s impressive, bewitching array of sounds and influences.
Right from the opening number, The Guvna, the band weave an intoxicating spell, welding together intriguing loops, ghostly wordless vocals, a pinch of ska, dubstep like beats and a touch of theremin thus creating a delicious groove, setting the mood for the diverse musical adventures ahead.
Captains Apprentice follows, showcasing the group’s more traditional roots as Jackie Oates delivers a short yet sensational ghostly acappella folk tale of murder at sea, that equally intrigues and chills the listener to the core. The Eliza Carthy fronted New York Trader begins as another folky lament before the acoustic guitars and fiddles are joined by subtle chilled out electronic beats forming a unique if not rootsy take on the folktronica tag (Tuung, etc), whilst the use of a horn section (Kick Horns, who have performed with Fema Kuti and Baaba Maal) offers up yet another string to the band’s already impressive bow. The title track see’s Sheema Mukherjee (sitar, vocals) front the band over a combination of acoustic guitar, vocal harmonies, violin and traditional Indian influence that, united with the epic drum battle that closes the track, wouldn’t sound out of place on (the incredible yet underrated) One Giant Leap album of a few years back.
The album continues in much the same rich and varied vein with highlights coming thick and fast from the brass and harmony assisted, jazzy dramatics of Fisherman to the incredible percussion frenzy, Get Kalsi that see’s the band weave a majestic spell of tabla, dhol, breakbeats and plucked fiddle to create a stunning slice of Anglo/Asian fusion that has to be heard to be fully appreciated.
Throughout the album’s duration, The Imagined Village deny convention by blending and straddling musical genres to create an album that’s not only unique but demands continuous repeat spins to reveal the many layers and subtleties that the band have joined to create such a rich and rewarding tapestry. Bending The Dark is a stunning, mesmeric album that defies categorization and should appeal to a wide ranging spectrum of music fan, from the long term admirer of the likes of the Carthy’s to the open-minded modern day electro-folk fanatic via the world music affectinado, The Imangined Village offer something for everyone.
Rhythm & Booze Rating 10
www.imaginedvillage.com