SPARKLEHORSE - ?DREAMT FOR LIGHT YEARS IN THE BELLY OF A MOUNTAIN?

Sparklehorse have always been one of those bands seemingly at odds with the current musical climate - never quite operating on the same wavelength as the rest. - which in reality is the best thing for everyone. Perhaps only the likes of The Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev are at all comparable to the haunting beauty and other-worldly themes of the songs of Sparklehorse - the music having a distinctly introspective and melancholic feel to it that separates it from the majority.

Its worth pointing out that Sparklehorse is essentially one man - Mark Linkous - a man who remains shrouded in enigma, existing is his own obscure and alternative world - and if your going to be taken on a trip to another world, then his is certainly the one to visit. This new record is testament to just that, ?Dreamt For Light Years In The Belly Of a Mountain? being an album full of wonder and enchantment, as through the course of its 12 songs we?re given glimpses of sleeping old bears, hammering hooves, Ophelia in the creek and Christmas bulbs glowing in the night. For those familiar with previous Sparklehorese albums, you?ll know just what to expect - and won?t be disappointed.

Once again, the majority of the songs here were recorded by Linkous himself at his home studio in an old secluded farmhouse in North Carolina - perhaps this quiet isolation being the inspiration behind the natural, earthy imagery the record creates. Despite this, he still had some help along the way - multi instrumentalist Stephen Drodz of the Flaming Lips being brought in to play drums, guitar and synthesisers, and the much sought after Danger Mouse aiding on some of the albums production work. Most impressive of all though is the inclusion once again of the reclusive Tom Waits, who provides piano and backing vocals on the haunting 7 minute track ?Morning Hollow?.

At times it can be easy to see how certain critics seem confused by the music Sparklehorse produce - even as a fan you have to admit that their albums are often a heady mix of the beautiful and the downright odd. But when the formula really works, and the ideas come together in perfect harmony, then the outcome is sublime. ?Shades of Honey? is cloaked in floating, upbeat melodies - full of sentimental positivity, whilst the glorious ?Some Sweet Day? and ?Mountains? are like offshoots from the great George Harrison?s classic album ?All Things Must Pass?.

Each Sparklehorse record always brings with it a few moments when Linkous drifts back into the land of the sane, turns the amps up a notch or two, and delivers a couple of more rock orientated, fast paced songs. As is the case here - with the fuzz guitar drive of ?Ghost In The Sky? and ?Its Not So Hard? doing the honours.

But for all the albums brilliant moments, for any over-critical fan there could well be an element of disappointment involved - due to 4 of the tracks being already available previously. The most notable of these being the album finale - the ten minute instrumental title track - previously found under the title ?Maxine? on the LP only version of 2001?s ?Its a Wonderful Life? album. Not taking anything away from the track itself though - a delicately building, yet gentle piano led epic ? elegantly shrouded in effects, inspired by the work of experimental post-rock band Godspeed You Black Emperor.

As an overall body of work, its fair to say that this is slightly more accessible than previous Sparklehorse albums - but by no means is it lacking in quality. Infact there?s plenty here to keep you mystified for a long time, and as we?ve come to expect from Mark Linkous - a beautifully put together and reflective record.

8/10

Ian Chambers, Aug ?06

Release Date: 25th September

www.sparklehorse.com

FORT ROX FESTIVAL, NEWHAVEN FORT - 12/8/06

A music festival - at a fort? Headlined and curated by British Sea Power? Well?why the hell not?! With the UK being well known for its music scene - and not its coastal defence systems - it seems a pretty radical idea to stick on a handful of bands, on a custom built stage, on the parade ground of an old wartime fort bang on the cliff edge in Sussex. But hey, it could work! Infact, festival goers can entertain themselves between bands by participating in such far out activities as recreating an air raid in the ?Blitz Experience?, or by going on a guided tour of the forts clifftop ramparts - all capped off with refreshments from the Searchlight Café. Although naturally, we headed for the bar - rather quaintly situated in an old aircraft hanger. Welcome comrades, to Newhaven Fort.

Now, as much as I?d like to tell you all how good the first band The Honeycuts are, I?m afraid it cannot be done - due to underestimating quite how much of a treck it is up the coastal path to the fort. Good job we weren?t marching. Scenesters beware - this seaside wind will have your straw hat off in a flash.

First band of the day then is male / female duo Jacobs Stories, who?s avante garde blend of folk and electronica bring to mind Kid A era Radiohead. Imaginative and interesting, although their music isn?t really suited to an outdoor festival and seems to leave people looking a wee bit baffled - which is something that local fourpiece Charlottefield soon put right. If it was a lunchtime wakeup call you?re after then they certainly deliver, with a set packed full of riff heavy, melodic hardcore - like a distinctly English version of DC hardcore bands such as Fugazi and Sick of it All. Powerful stuff!

In comparison, Wakefield popsters The Research are all colour and bundles of energy - rounded off with lots of slightly twee, casio keyboard led pop songs. Judging by the random outbreaks of dancing amongst the assembled crowd, the verdict seems to be a positive one too. All nicely catchy, and for a while actually surprisingly entertaining - although like eating too many sweets, too much can soon become sickly.

As if knowing that too much dancing could cause you to peak too early - its over to My Latest Novel to slow the pace down slightly, and take everyone on a journey through their dark, mysterious, and strangely theatrical songs. Clearly a talented and creative six piece - violins soar, xylophones shimmer and all sorts of things go on besides - morphing from moody Arab Strap like strums, to Idlewild like mini anthems in the space of a song.

Finally, in preparation for our hosts British Sea Power, duties are handed over to The Duke Spirit to give us all a good kick up the arse. They storm their way through an excellent set consisting of mainly new songs - the feisty attitude of frontwoman Leila Moss shining through the dark, scuzzy guitar grooves. Very loud and quite distinctly labelled ?rock? - the new album should be worth the wait. The only downside being partial deafness due to standing inline with one of the mainstage speaker stacks. I knew it was a bad idea.

Now then, seeing as we?re all standing in a fort on the Sussex coast - and knowing how British Sea Power like to do things their own way - I was half expecting the band to suddenly be lowered into the fort by helicopter, or arrive on the beach by speedboat. Sadly, neither is the case, as they amble onstage to be greeted with the mass waving of freshly picked foliage by small portions of the crowd. Nothing like a friendly welcome eh - and the band respond in the best possible way with their now customary opening song ?The Scottish Wildlife Experience?. Despite the odd technical hitch, the hour-long set is packed full of epic tunes - this band are clearly made to play outdoor festivals. Anthems the size of the sweeping ?Remember Me? and a quite wondrous version of crowd favourite ?Please Stand Up? are dealt with early on - allowing for a new atmospheric masterpiece titled ?Mary? to take centre stage, that quite frankly, has the words ?future single? written all over it. "I opened my eyes / I did not make a sound / I could not cut you down". Beautiful. The sprawling ?True Adventures? is given its glorious full airing of seven plus minutes, complete with violin courtesy of Abi from Jacobs Stories - before the band are joined onstage by a rather large dancing bear (or is it a man in a bear costume?) for the crazy finale of ?Stretch and Flex With Ursine Ultra?. During the closing moments we witness Noble snap the neck of his favourite guitar, and Hamilton fighting with the onstage dancing bear - before said bear nearly catching alight from the heat of the lights - all whilst the stage becomes slowly shrouded in smoke and guitar feedback. And then they were gone - airlifted away into the clouds. Possibly.

To sum things up then, the obscure day can best be described as "about as much fun as you can have whilst spending six hours in a fort". Couldn?t have put it better myself.

British Sea Power setlist: ?The Scottish Wildlife Experience?, ?Remember Me?, ?Please Stand Up?, ?Apologies To Insect Life?, ?Spirit Of St Louis?, ?Mary?, ?How Will I Ever Find My Way Home?, ?Fear Of Drowning?, ?Atom?, ?True Adventures?, ?Carrion?, ?Stretch And Flex With Ursine Ultra?.

THE DIAMOND FAMILY ARCHIVE - ?S/T?

Firstly, if its angry men with guitars and an attitude you?re after, then quite frankly stop reading now. But if not, meet Laurence. Laurence Collyer is a busy man. Currently involved in a number of different bands and musical projects, he?s the big bearded, hat wearing, gem of Brighton?s musicians. Now, for those who care to remember a Brighton based pop-folk band by the name of Chimp (who released a full-length record and a follow up mini album in 2002-3) - then Laurence was indeed the bands frontman and focal point. See ? you learn something new everyday.

Putting brief flirtations with success aside, Laurence is currently involved with the gentle pastoral folk band Blanket, and also the up and coming Brighton based alternative country 8 piece My Little Problem. Clearly we have here a man who loves to play music.

After all that, we come to another of his musical creations - and one with which he seems to have felt most at home recently - The Diamond Family Archive. Originally starting off as a solo effort using looped guitars, lap steel and keyboards, the initial idea has since developed into a talented 3 piece band, who all play an array of various instruments that help create the atmospheric soundscapes that allow Laurences delicate songs to breathe. It?s hard to try and analyse what the Diamond Family Archive do, and the music they make - although beautiful is about as close as you?ll get.

As for the reason we?re here - to write about the record. This 9-track album is infact the first recorded material from the Diamond Family Archive, and yes it really is something special. Working elegantly as an album as a whole, the songs seem to seamlessly fit perfectly together as a whole body of work - the songs never straying from their fragile, atmospheric path.

Lyrically this record seemingly deals with the topics of redemption, love, loss and forgiveness - but often in a cleverly indirect way, as on the opener ?Crows? - contemplating the life of a crow living in the forest - the things they see, and yet we never know.

Lone finger picked banjo and guitar welcomes you into the simple yet hauntingly effective song ?Let In? - the minimal instruments built around Laurence?s distinctly personal and observational lyrics. "I?ve got a good heart / but I wont let it beat / in time with anything / no I wont let it win / over me". Powerful stuff. The melancholic piano led song ?Lazy? proves to be a short yet wonderful gem of a tune - the lap steel, guitar and banjo combining with some hazy backing harmonies that?ll be sure to have you nodding your head in happy approval.

Two main highlights though are the lap steel slide of ?End Of The Road?, and the finger picked guitar / harmonica number ?Greenfields?. As with most songs on this record the general songs are simple, yet the inspired accompaniment creates a wonderful mood, which elevates the songs to something that extra bit special.

These are an intimate and warm collection of songs that glisten and sparkle in an ever so chilled out way - thanks in part to Laurence?s soft hushed vocal style - sad, yearning, yet full of hope. Given a chance these songs will get under your skin and find a special place in your heart - just as this CD should in your record collection. Stunning.

9/10

Ian Chambers, Jul ?06

Release Date: Available Now

www.slowumbrella.com

www.myspace.com/thediamondfamilyarchive