Feldspar
Album: The Flat and Paper Sky Vol. 2
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 5
Website: http://www.feldsparmusic.co.uk

"The Flat And Paper Sky Vol.2" from Feldspar, follows pretty much hot on the heels of its companion release and to a certain extent it surprises me because when played back to back its obvious that they are part of a greater whole, although to be fair, both halves are more than capable of standing in their own right. I guess if this is all there is, it does fall tantalisingly short of an album.

Feldspar have a sound that might be best described as contemporary folk rock with an indie edge. If the likes of Fairport and the Strawbs were coming into existence now, rather than having their roots in the sixties, I don't think their sound would be too different from this, though that's not to say the sensibilities of the songs would be the same.

Feldspar infuse their songs with a sense of power, there is a real use of tone across the EP songs that crescendo, play light against dark, soft against loud. It means that even within the confines of only having four tracks, "The Flat And Paper Sky Vol.2" fits in quite a lot of texture without ever sounding cluttered, more importantly it never produces a point where the vocal is anything other than clear.

Even with the vocal there are times when a single voice is left to carry the sound, whilst other times it comes down to tight harmonies, although not quite the same, think late period Chumbawamba. Similarly, Feldspar are also a band that when you think you've got them sussed they pull something unexpected on you and that's down to really tight arrangements.

Personally thinking, I think in, "After Hours" they have saved the best to last, but don't take that as an excuse to short cut to the end. "The Flat And Paper Sky Vol.2" is worthy of a lot more than that.

Neil King