On this limited edition ep Rob St John maintains the high quality set by 2007's sublime 'Tipping In' EP. It continues his eloquent brand of what he describes as "ghostly, creaking and droning lo-fi folk".
Recorded live in one evening in Stackbridge Church, Edinburgh with minimal overdubs it features four beautiful arranged songs steeped in Autumnal melancholy.
The tracks are 'Like Alchemy, Paper Ships, A Red Heron and The Wicker Basket.
Despite the languid mood of the record, there's a richness and depth that more than repays repeated listens. The quality of the songs is not something which is easy to put into words largely because St John's allegorical imagery defies simplistic interpretation.
Recurring themes of soil, sea and lost souls are most perfectly realised in Paper Ships where the fragility of our 'here,not here' lives is evoked in the chorus:
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"just to guide lost souls, just to map them home,
if you're alone - you're not alone"
The grace and lyricism of St John's voice and acoustic guitar is particularly enhanced by the elegant accompaniment of Scottish Chamber Orchestra's Louise Martin on cello and musical saw.
I suspect that each listener will have their own ideas of what the songs are actually about. With references to drawing lines in the sand or carving names on trees, they speak to me of capturing fleeting moments and finding purpose even at times when our lives seem to be as aimless as driftwood.
One thing is sure, this record confirms Rob St John as a maturing talent to be treasured and celebrated.
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