Lot Lorien - Elsewhere Again - New EP. A Review by Trev Teasdel
In these war-torn days of austerity of soul and compassion, come a travelling troupe of natural born musicians - Middle Earth minstrels in a lyrical legendary Tolkien landscape.
Their music embraces the storytelling folk traditions of their homeland in Bulgaria, where they were most popular for two decades - festivals, radio, TV, albums and videos. It takes in the best of English folk; traditional and contemporary, with an ear for the likes of Pentangle, Fairport Convention and Dando Shaft but which can swoop to the style of early King Crimson and progressive rock and back to the ethereal! And yet their style is distinctly their own.
These are quality musicians making quality music with a finely balance range of traditional and modern instruments. Now based in the Coventry area of the UK, their line up has varied around the music and lyrics of Kiril Georgiev who takes his cue from Bert Jansch and John Renbourn but who can easily let rip on the electric guitar when the music rises to the occasion!
The new EP begins with a version of the old American folk song 'Katie Cruel' with original music from Kiril Georgiev. The lyric, a song of regret, dates back to The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). The best known version is by Karen Dalton, sung to a banjo. This new version redefines the song and new recruit, Sean O'Connor does a great job on vocals and harmonica and the band create a setting reminiscent in places, of Pentangle's version of Cruel Sister and Joe O'donnels Shkayla with a musical style of their own.
One of my favourite songs by Lot Lorien in their Bulgarian days was called Gypsy Song which, sung by a female singer in Bulgarian, won the Audience Prize at the 2012 "Pop & Rock Festival" in Sofia. It's a beautiful lyrical and musical song even if you can't understand the lyrics in the original tongue. I wondered how this song, now with lyrics translated into English and re-titled 'Still Dreaming', would stand up with a male singer. I have to say Sean O'Connor exceeds expectation, making it his own and reaching those high notes.
In 'Close to you', Lot Lorien employ their wider musical influences and launch into what becomes an energetic progressive rock number. I like the way it builds with it's tempo changes and extended electric lead break. Sean O'Connor comes into his own here with a powerful delivery and the song brings to conclusion, this snippet of the band's talent.
It's always hard for a band to reform and recreate the magic of their past music with new members in a new cultural setting but Lot Lorien have done the business here I think. If you like good, well played mythical music with an interplay of rhythms and beautiful melodies, you won't be disappointed with this, their first UK Extended Play. The EP will be available on the website here in due course http://www.lot-lorien.com/shop
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