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.

Download audio file (Esper.mp3)

Espers Official Website
Espers Official Myspace
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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.”

Download audio file (Nadler.mp3)

Marissa Nadler Official Website
Marissa Nadler Myspace
A Fan Website
Marissa Nadler Interview
Annabelle Lee Poem
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Leonard Norman Cohen, born September 21, 1934 in Westmount, Quebec, is a songwriter, singer, poet and writer. He published his first book of poetry at the age of 22. Among his favorite themes are loneliness and complexity of relationships with others.

During the late 60s and early 70s, Cohen does a long tour from the United States to Europe through Canada. In 1973, he tours in Israel and plays to military bases during the Yom Kippur War. Its rather difficult to imagine him cheering the troops.

The album Live Songs, representative of early Leonard Cohen, includes 10 live recordings, mainly from European concerts between 1970 and 1972. These pieces are beautiful combinations of eroticism, love and depression. This album presents us with a naked and raw Cohen in its finest hours.

Download audio file (Cohen.mp3)

Further information on Wikipedia [en]
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In the early 60, Vashti Bunyan, born in London, study painting. Her roommate makes her discovered the guitar and teach her the basics. She discovered a passion and is expelled of her school for never going to lessons. She spends her time writing songs. In 1963, during a trip to New York, she discovered the music of Bob Dylan and decided to devote herself entirely to the music.

The album Just Another Diamond Day, from which is extracted this track, was released in 1970, and unfortunately struggles to find an audience. Vashti, deeply disappointed by the music industry, suffers from a complete incomprehension and decides to withdraw from music to raise her children in the countryside in Ireland.

During the 30 years that followed, she never imagined that her album became one of the most popular of its era. The original edition sold on E-Bay up to $2000.

Thus, in 2000, this album is re-edited and meets a great success. She can return to the front of the folk scene after 35 years’ absence to produce her 2nd album in 2005.

” Dreamers we should be asleep in bed
Moving slowly through the springtime air
Holding moments in the depth of care “

Download audio file (Bunyan.mp3)

Further information on Wikipedia [en]
Album Info Website
Buy Just Another Diamond Day on Amazon.com