ABANDONED LOVE

Early 2010 saw the release of Trembling Bells' second album Abandoned Love on the same label, but this time, the guest were clearly defined and including a strong string section. Again released on the Honest John label, this mini-Lp gatefold release feature a medieval scene, courtesy of the lead-singing Lavinia Blackwell. To top it all of, the album receives the endorsement of THE folk rock authority, Joe Boyd, who brought so many groups into ther fold back in the glorious days. A bit too bad that this second album doesn't have the same kind of illustrated booklet with song lyrics, but it's nothing scandalous either.

Opening on an improbable mix of baroque folk and near-country (the harmonica), Adieu England announces the colour of the rest to come, even if Garden Born features Lavinia's crystal clear vocals over a solemn almost Spanish-sounding horn section. After the familiar- sounding Lay Your Burdens Down, the crumhorn-laden Did You Sing Together and the almost renaissance-horns of Month Of Death, the album had veered quite pure-folk, until the semi- country/folkish-rock of Outlaw Of My Heart and the familiar-sounding Ravenna (again with those over-slick horns) and the album glides smoothly into a downwards slope until the horrible and aptly-titled full-blown country-rock (Yyuuckk!!!!)You Are On The Bottom. What a pitiful way to end an album.

It's too bad that such a well-started album finishes so tastelessly. Certainly not escaping the usual traps and clichés, you could almost call TB a "retro prog folk" band if it wasn't for a few "faute de gout" and personally I prefer their debut.