As Friday’s go this one is slow and then some so I guess I’ll give you two reviews:
The Vigilante – Judee Sill
The saddest thing about this live version of “The Vigilante” is that what appears to be around 1972, she is opening for some bloke I’ve never heard of (David Graham?). The song ended up on her final album and is yet another intricately woven folk song based upon an internal pun (the jump of an octave on “higher”) and a soft walking blues progression.
Fortune – Midlake
“What if the rains wouldn’t come, what if the earth was undone…?” What, indeed. OK, I give up. This is a terrific band and “Fortune” is as gentle. This is as close as Midlake come to an ease the equal of Richard Thompson and Linda Thompson covering old English folk songs. A glorious beauty -and not so prog either, though the back-up vocals are pretty damn intricate. I am not sure if it makes me happy or sad -I guess it’s a litmus test, if you’re happy it gives you the weight of a joy that is fleeting and if you are sad an everlasting ache.