If the future of British folk music really lies with the fake hobo chic of Mumford And Sons (and numerous other bandwagon jumpers) I for one would be seriously depressed.
Fortunately, another world beyond the drab uniformity of the mainstream is possible. For instance, you could take a sonic excursion to Bastard Mountain and greet these hardy souls warmly rather than bidding a premature farewell.
There are five members of the band, a meeting of musical minds and kindred spirits who set aside their various side projects in readiness for whatever improvisations and happy accidents might occur.
The contributors are Pete Harvey and Neil Pennycook from Meursault; Rory Sutherland from Broken Records, Reuben Taylor from James Yorkston & the Athletes; Jill O'Sullivan from Sparrow & The Workshop and Rob St John from Eagleowl, Meursault and a solo artist of some standing besides.
O'Sullivan, St John and Pennycook are the main songwriters; each arriving with songs either to sing themselves or to share. Rory Sutherland wrote one instrumental (the cornily titled Drone Armatrading) and there's a marvellously languid cover of Karen Dalton's Something On Your Mind, a song written by Quicksilver Messenger Service’s Dino Valenti.
Far from sounding like a series of solo turns, they come over as a cohesive, well established band. The bonding is all the more impressive given that they recorded most of the tunes live after minimal rehearsal time.
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On the opening track , Meadow Ghosts, the drifting mood is reminiscent of Neil Young's Zuma period and is typical of the droning, introspective textures on the album as a whole.
The tender melancholy of Pissing On Bonfires and the gothic beauty of Old Habits are two other standout tracks, Jill O'Sullivan's vocals on the latter being especially affecting.
The atmosphere may be somewhat solemn but theirs is the kind of misery that loves company. Better this than the cheesy fiddle-dee-dee stuff that too often passes for authentic, traditional folk.
Named after Beinn Squlaird in Scotland, Bastard Mountain firmly embrace a forlorn Wyrd-ness; the musical equivalent of setting out to trek through a bleak, yet beautiful landscape prepared to face all weathers with a steady resolve.
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