Name: The Sun Also Rises
Brand: Progressive
SKU: 18317059
Price: 14.55 USD
Availability: InStock

The Sun Also Rises

Rating

Performer Notes

Personnel: Graham Hemingway (vocals, guitar); Anne Hemingway (vocals, dulcimer, vibraphone, glockenspiel, percussion); Andy Leggett (whistling).
Arranger: Graham Hemingway.
The Sun Also Rises' only album is extremely reminiscent of the Incredible String Band's brand of mystical acid folk. Where the Incredible String Band could mix jovial, introspective, and even menacing moods, however, the Sun Also Rises' range is more limited. While their blend of guitar, dulcimer, glockenspiel, bells, and more can be pleasing, the mood is about as twee as it ever got for British acid folk. Much of that's due to how Graham Hemingway and Anne Hemingway's twisting high harmonies have a cutesy flutter at their high end. But the precious melodies and lyrics do their part as well, giving off the air of a too-genteel Renaissance Faire. There are some nice wistful melodies and harmonies, though the mood is occasionally shattered (as on "Until I Do") by some way-too-farcical kazoo. At their tweest, they can sound as if they're trapped in a toy music box. They're better when they get a shred more serious and explore minor melodies, as on ballads like "Part of the Room" and their reworking of the folk standard "O Death" (here simply titled "Death"). This rarity was reissued by the Scenescof label, with the addition of the bonus track "Fafnir and the Knights," which originally appeared on the 1972 various-artists compilation Us on the Village Thing label. ~ Richie Unterberger