Oliver Cherer is an English musician, who makes the modern equivalent to fractured folk, a fine balance of delicate analog electronica, acoustic instrumentation and a folk sensibility when it comes to composition. He also happens to be on one of my all time favourite labels, Static Caravan, a label that continues to grow, develop, adapt, and release truly interesting music after many years, this being its 179th release. I first stumbled upon Dollboy with my fascination in Tunng, when they released a split 7†remixing each others track. Its this psychedelic pastoral whimsy that shines through on releases by acts such as Dollboy and Tunng, harking back to the 60′, and the strangeness of such soundtracks as The Wickerman.
A Beard Of Bees is Oliver’ first foray into song based composition, his previous work being instrumental, he has retained the pastoral whimsy, bird song and all, but has structured finely crafted songs around his instrumentation. This could be an album from the 60′ if it wasn’ for the obvious electronic treatments, textures and pulses. The subject matter screams psychedelia, with tracks like California, Tea Dance, He Went Down To The Sea and Heavenly, and a heavenly feel is what washes over you.
This is a new bread of folk music, time to grab your guitar and go sit in a field. Static Caravan yet again give us another classic release.
Wayne Stronell
