WoodFolk – Oak Review

What does WoodFolk sound like?

Drone folk from the deepest forests of England.

The review of ‘Oak’ by WoodFolk

Deep in the forests of England, you can often find the excellent Cucculi Records. They specialise in English folk music that falls on the darker, lore-seeped side of the genre. WoodFolk is their latest signing – a drone folk project led by Luke Spurgeon which brings in other musicians to guest over their harmonium, fiddle and ambient drones. ‘Oak’ is the debut release and it is a juxtaposition of intense moods and moody vocals.

‘Acorn’ opens the EP with a rustling of various folk instruments as if the release is clearing its throat for the songs ahead. That kicks off with ‘The Brave Old Oak’, a harmonium drone track featuring Claire Vine’s vocals. Claire’s main project ‘Hands of the Heron’ showcases her vocal abilities as part of a vocal group. Here, she is the entire vocal collage. The release goes darker still with ‘Tiny Moss Valleys’ as the drones get rugged and fire-singed. Lucy Farrell provides an untethered vocal arrangement that floats on a different plain to the drones whilst glitched guitar samples provide a numbing chorus.

Bird song recorded overnight during a camping trip and rustic drums bring a jaunty jamboree drone to ‘The Great Oak Tree’. This is a spoken word piece from Martin Simpson, who reads a verse from ‘The Girt Woak Tree That’s In the Dell’ by William Barnes. The ambience of night forest life and acoustic guitars is like your imagination scoring a cinematic backdrop to Martin’s words like a nighttime tale. Claire Vine returns for the lethargic and clapped-out percussive slaps, pops and thwacks of ‘Before The Land Was Cleared’. The percussion on this EP sounds like it was recorded in a cave and here is where it impacts most.

With the guests gone, WoodFolk closes out the release with the seven-minute experimental track ‘Organic Delay’. Firecrackers, oscillating frequencies, static explosions and a lone tambourine and war drum ring out over hues of drones. It’s as if the world (or the Oak Tree the album is about) is under attack from acid rain. Oppressive and numbing, it’s a cold and empty end to a mysterious song cycle.

Luke Spurgeon and his guests clearly know how to create an intoxicating mood. Many of the tracks hold your attention because despite having minimal melodic hooks, each track is full of tension. WoodFolk lives for the atmosphere it creates and whilst that lacks immediacy, it’s a great release to enjoy with the lights down low. If you enjoy artists like Emily Portman and Emma Jane White, you’ll likely enjoy WoodFolk too.

Recommended track: The Brave Old Oak feat Claire Vine

---

---

Support Higher Plain Music

Higher Plain Music is part of the Higher Plain Network – a one-man indie media project. If you like what I do, please consider supporting me via Patreon for as little as $1/£1 a month. In return, you’ll receive additional perks for supporting me, such as behind-the-scenes content and free downloads. You can also donate using PayPal. Sharing the website helps too or using the affiliate buy now links on reviews. I receive a few pence per Amazon sale. All your support will enable me to produce better content, more often. I’d love to make this a full-time media network and your support can make that happen. Thank you.