Cargo Records

Up With The Orchadian Tide

Taking their name from Dylan Thomas' radio play Under Milkwood and not- likely to the dismay of prog-rock zealots-- from the King Crimson album title, Starless & Bible Black perform each of their stylistic shifts with an effortless agility, resulting in a collection that captivates primarily through its graceful, almost nonchalant simplicity. The group's three core musicians each brings something unique to the discussion, all the better to help differentiate the group's sound in an overrun folk-rock market. Guitarist and home-studio recluse Peter Philipson plays with a clean, deftly syncretic style derived from British folk pioneers Davy Graham and Bert Jansch, Gautier's appealing vocals slip almost invisibly between English and French, recalling Sandy Denny's more delicate work with Fairport as well as homespun contemporaries like Lois Maffeo or Ida's Elizabeth Mitchell. Most intriguing, however, are the contributions of multi-instrumentalist Raz Ullah, whose idiosyncratic electronic drones, tape loops, and samples supply these songs with a crucial undercurrent of drama and dissonance.