Flowery Noontide – Espers (2004)
In 2002, Greg Weeks, Brooke Sietinsons and Meg Baird form this folk band Espers, from Philadelphia. They are quickly joined by Otto Hauser, Helena Espvall and Chris Smith.
They are inspired by both recent folk bands such as Six Organs of Admittance, and British Folk bands of the end of the 60’s. Indeed, several members of Espers have participated in Nick Castro and Vashti Bunyan albums when they returned under the spotlights.
The Flowery Noontide track, which is extracted from their very first album, released in 2004 at Locust Music, represents perfectly their Psych Folk songs’ atmosphere with flute sounds and Indian instruments that come with a sublime voice.
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Espers Official Website
Espers Official Myspace
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Annabelle Lee – Marissa Nadler (2004)
The first album of Marissa Nadler: Ballads of Living and Dying, released in 2004, takes us into the strange universe, dark and full of melancholy of this young singer. Marissa Nadler, born April 5, 1981, grew up in a small town in Massachusetts which difficult climate and harsh winters have probably influenced its orientation to the world of spleen.
His voice is often compared to those of singers such as Vashti Bunyan, Kate Bush, Sandy Denny, Hope Sandoval and Neko Case. In addition, it is generally ranked among the Folk revival artists, but claims many influences: “My music comes much more from an Americana traditions. I really like gritty old blues singers and Country music. I like the British stuff, but it was never an influence of mine. [...] The biggest of my influences are Leonard Cohen, Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell, in terms of song writing. [...] Sonically, I was into Pink Floyd, The Poppy Family, and a lot of space folk and space rock.“
In this ballad: “Anabelle Lee”, which closed her first album, Marissa Nadler brings the poem of the same name written by Edgar Allan Poe, to music. It leads us into an imaginary universe disturbing, dark and ethereal.
“For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling, my darling, my life and my bride,
In the sepulcher there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.”
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Marissa Nadler Official Website
Marissa Nadler Myspace
A Fan Website
Marissa Nadler Interview
Annabelle Lee Poem
Buy Ballads of Living and Dying on Amazon.com
