LEAFBLADE

Line-up / Musicians: - Daniel Cardoso / drums, percussion - Danny Cavanagh / bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards - Sean Jude / acoustic guitar, classical guitar, poetry, vocals - Kevin Murphy / bass

1. "Bethlehem" (8:28) Good song with the final minute being the highlight for me. Interesting lyrics. (16.75/20) 2. "The Hollow Hills" (6:47) (12.5/15) 3. "Sunset Hypnos" (5:23) cool NEIL YOUNG- and DAVE MASON-like feel. (9/10) 4. "Fuchsia" (2:37) nice little classical guitar duet. (4.5/5) 5. "Oak Machine" (8:01) an absolutely stunningly beautiufl and haunting song with amazingly sensitive multi-track vocal harmony from Sean. One of my favorite songs of 2013. (14/15) 6. "Thirteen" (6:54) (12.75/15) 7. "Beneath a Woodland Moon" (4:40) (8/10) 8. "Portrait" (10:56) an attempt at a kind of liturgical Gentle Giant vocal arrangement for the first four minutes, then the electric rock instruments enter and change everything (thought there is still a SIMON & GARFUNKLE sound and feel). At the six-minute mark it slows back down for a bit--very pretty--but then goes full ANATHEMA at 7:10. The repetitive vocal and two-chord fabric that ensues goes on for a full two minutes before finally breaking at 9:00. Classical guitar over ANATHEMA atmospherics sets up a section with some very delicate, breathy slow vocals--just a few words recapitulating the opening motif and lyrics--to the end. Gorgeous finish. The rest is kind of all over the place. Still, a good song and a great ending to the album. (17.5/20)

Total time: 53:46

B/four stars; a solid album of atmospheric Prog Folk that is certainly recommended for all lovers of the sub-genre. Sean Jude's voice and vocal arrangements alone are worth checking out--though the impeccable Cavanagh touch to this production is also impressive.