A Hawk And A Hacksaw And The Hun Hangár Ensemble EP

Following on from last year's excellent "The Way The Wind Blows" album, A Hawk And A Hacksaw have again travelled to the heart of Eastern Europe for their latest project. Jeremy Barnes & co have roped famous Hungarian musicians under the The Hun Hangár Ensemble guise and Beirut's Zach Cordon turns up adding his trumpet and mandolin expertise. Limited to just 4,000 copies the "A Hawk And A Hacksaw And The Hun Hangár Ensemble EP" will be released on May 7th, to coincide with an extensive tour of Europe.

With Efterklang's sublime "Under Giant Trees" already under their belt this year, The Leaf Label are looking to provide yet more evidence of the multi-dimensional artists on its roster. And they seem to have found a winner in A Hawk And A Hacksaw, who are dragging authentic European folk music in the 21st Century.

A mix of the weird and wonderful, exotic instruments such as Hungarian Bagpipes, Cymbalom and Bouzouki are combined with more traditional equipment to create these 8 compositions. Leaf have kindly donated two mp3's.


"Ihabibi" mp3 - A Hawk And A Hacksaw And The Hun Hangár Ensemble

"Zozobra" mp3 - A Hawk And A Hacksaw And The Hun Hangár Ensemble

Efterklang - Jojo (live)

Here is a video of "Jojo" another track from Efterklang's promising "Under Giant Trees" Ep (due out on April 2nd). This one is instantly brilliant and this video taken from a performance in Stockholm in November 2005, is truly compelling stuff.

I am hoping there will be some UK live dates later this year, going by this amazing video Efterklang are not to be missed.

I particulary like the hushed vocals and the twinkling sounds and this track seems to encompass some folk traditions.

Efterklang

When I bought Efterklang's 2004 debut album "Tripper", I at first thought Denmark had found an answer to Iceland's Sigur Ros. Further investigation of the CD revealed, this septet had little in common with them, apart from sharing the same continent. The sounds of "Tripper" were more experimental, less calculated, a little more free in other words. There was no record label pressure, such as Geffen urging Sigur Ros to record the poppy "Takk". "Tripper" featured no fewer than 34 musicians, and provided a sound that no other band has come close to matching.

2007 will be even more productive with an ep due out, which will then be followed by a full-length album. Mark April 2nd in your diaries (or PDA's), it will see the release of a limited (4500 cd's, 1200 vinyl) ep entitled "Under Giant Trees". Available through Leaf and the band's own label, Rumraket, this ep looks set to explore and expand on the musical themes of "Tripper". There's a certain amount of buzz around Efterklang, with several blogs posting about them. So you may have already came across the mp3 of the lead track of the ep. But if you haven't, "Towards The Bare Hill" is well worth a listen. Starting nt unlike labelmate Colleen, almost tribal sounding percussion pushes its way across the mix with some electronic production trickery. Authentic chanting in their native language soon veers this track into unchartered territory. Along with some accordian and brass brand instrumentation, it resembles a Scandinavian version of A Hawk and a Hacksaw.

I will say it is difficult to make sense of it after just a few listens. However, some of my favourite songs have panned out this way. Give this a chance, I am completely hooked. The artwork above, by Nan Na Hvass, is equally impressive.

"Towards The Bare Hill" mp3 - Efterklang

Top 5 Albums Of The Year : Ben Winbolt-Lewis

More top 5 albums here, this time it is with Cuckundoo Records owner, Ben-Winbolt Lewis. Ben also works with The Leaf Label so was in a great position to find out the best music of 2006.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5. Thom Yorke – "The Eraser " (XL)

"not my most listened album of the year, but one of the most powerful. Thom Yorke has monopolised the claustrophobic paranoid feel of a record!"






4. Steve Reid Ensemble – "Spirit Walk " (Soul Jazz)

"2005 record I know, but I bought it this year so there! Amazing grooves, that far surpasses the later collaborations between Steve and Kieran (Four Tet)"





3. Broken Social Scene – s/t (Arts & Crafts)

"not as good as "You Forgot It In People", but this album takes a long while to unravel. The best show of the year for me at the Leeds Irish Centre which inspired me infinitely!"






2. Joanna Newsom – "Ys" (Drag City)

"Yes, a bit early to really say, but the arrangements, the feel, the individuality of this record are mindblowing". "







1.volcano! - "Beautiful Seizure" (Leaf)

"I can say this because I loved the album before I worked at Leaf – refreshing, challenging and blows the cobwebs away! "