The Spectral Light & Moonshine Firefly Snakeoil Jamboree

SCARECROW STUFFING - The Spectral Light & Moonshine Firefly Snakeoil Jamboree [HOLLR991]. Available from Dark Holler UK, The Coach House, Maypole Road, Langford, Essex CM9 4TA, England.

THIS one was recommended to me by Michael Moynihan of Blood Axis, with whom I’d been discussing my penchant for old-time Bluegrass and things of a decidedly Appalachian nature. I’m very grateful for the tip, too, because despite the fact that it has been turned down by several record companies this Timothy Renner CD is finger-lickin’ good and deserves a place in the collection of anyone with a serious liking for gothic-folk.

The opening track, God Bless the Moon, was gleaned from a Jean Richie LP and is beautifully suited for Sarada’s eerie and haunting vocal range. Next comes my own favourite, Tom Dula, a dark little number sung by the talented banjo player Timothy Renner who, apart from TSL&MFSJ has put into motion two other interesting musical projects. The song itself - which resembles one of those nasty little nursery rhymes used to scare the shit out of unruly brats - is a gloomy warning to all prospective lady-killers who think they can get away with murdering the girl of their dreams because she has steadfastly refused to enter into matrimony. Poor old Tom, evidently, ended up “hangin’ from a white oak tree”, an event which obviously inspired the harrowing (for some) photograph which accompanies the CD. Path of Nails is the only song to employ a bass guitar but it works superbly and reminds me somewhat of a Leonard Cohen number, as does the consequent offering, Black Horse Ride. This is just too good to be true, and once again we have Sarada’s spiralling harmonies echoing amidst Timothy’s deeply uttered mantras. This is followed by Cold Rain and Snow which, in truth, could have been recorded by the early-70’s Folk group, Planxty. R.A. Campbell’s mandolin gives this song a decidedly hypnotic air and Prydwyn sounds more like Andy Irvine than the great man ever did himself. The Song of the Scarecrow is next, an ode to nature and the patient guardian that faithfully watches the fields by day and with the approach of nightfall strides tunefully amidst the shadows. A touch of traditional Bluegrass is then brought into play with an instrumental called Walkin’ In the Parlour, reminiscent of the old Bill Monroe numbers of the ‘40’s and ‘50’s. Anyone familiar with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds will appreciate the dark rhythms of A Conversation With Death. This is a song about the role of death itself and the fact that the impervious ears of the Reaper remain unsympathetic to man’s pleas for mercy and a postponement of his inevitable fate. The Bone Collector is a combination of guitar, dulcimer and flute, and but for a little added eclecticism would not be out of place on a Jethro Tull LP. Now the consequent track, The Cuckoo, is definitely akin to early Leonard Cohen and the interplay of catfish and slide guitars is a joy. Stealing the Fire >From Heaven adds a classical theme to the CD, but in this case the famous Grecian legend about Prometheus is celebrated as an expression of inseparable love. Quite unrelated to The Stanley Brothers’ Bluegrass classic, Little Maggie, TSL&MFSJ’s Little Margaret is a brief excursion into the ghostly realms of love beyond the grave. Meanwhile, House Carpenter is an old Pennsylvanian folk song performed with a creaking bull fiddle and tells of love, loss and penultimate death, whilst Thirteen is well-known to me from Johnny Cash’s American Recordings CD, issued in 1994 (but a great cover, nonetheless). Following hot on the heels of this we have Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down, a song strikingly similar to those apocalyptic ditties performed in the Process Church coffee houses by Changes during the early-70’s. Finally, Bright Morning Stars is a hidden (and consequently unnamed) track with more than a hint of gospel-like spirituality, although I very much doubt whether TSL&MFSJ can be regarded as your average bible-bashing combo!! A first class CD and well done to all concerned.