When folkies like Fairport Convention or Trees rocked out in the early Seventies, they assimilated then contemporary sounds. Attempts to ape them today, as in swathes of the Philadelphia psych-folk underground, can whiff of costumed re-enactment.
Praise John Barleycorn, then, for Trembling Bells, whose third album is both stoically historic and heroically now.
Confidently proclaiming themselves a feature of the titular Constant Pageant, assuming a role in an ongoing tradition, Trembling Bells hit new levels of excellence. A sudden sense of purpose sees their most pronounced avant-rock leanings and ragged improvisatory edges selflessly shorn, sensing some vast utilitarian undertaking almost within their grasp. Michael Hastings’ Tardis guitar tumbles through time, snatching the notes it needs from incompatible eras; Simon Shaw’s bass charts a pole star path through Alex Neilson’s tempestuous free jazz percussion; processionary horns toot; and Lavinia Blackwall can make skyward shifts into a head voice that would wither an X-Factor finalist, on the nosebleed inducingly brilliant Where Do I Go From You, and replicate woozy abandon, on the majestic lurch of the declaratory, tumultuous opener Just As The Rainbow.
The group do cast their net wider than British folk. The pounding punk-prog number Otley Rock Oracle, channelling Mountain’s Nantucket Sleighride, belongs by virtue of its hallucinatory folkloric narrative. Cold Heart Of Mine’s blues harp connects Americana with its European roots and Hastings’ raga like licks look East. In the 21st century nothing can exist in splendid isolation.
The Constant Pageant offers a poetic incantation of British identity far brighter than Michael Gove’s proposed GCSE history syllabus.
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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John Robins, Comedian
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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World Without End, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Bosco239, youtube
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Fowkes81, Twitter
Fowkes81, Twitter
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Idrie, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
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GRTak, finalgear.com
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube