BRENTON MANSER AND THE DISCIPLES OF ZEN – STRANGE NOTIONS
If the Fairport Convention were the pioneers of the folk rock movement, then Brenton Manser and the Disciples of Zen bring that movement back with some amount of swagger. What begins as a plaintive Irish jig on the fiddle, soon develops into an oddly funky stomp – so begins this unusual but likable record outta the Half-A-Cow shed. Band leader Manser has the slacker-style whining vocals of the indie kings of yesteryear; and there is a bluesy, mountain-folk sound at play with the addition of fiddles, harps, melodica etc which holds a token of the eccentric sounds of yesteryear. Sometimes it even feels a bit psychedelic, in the fiddly drones of Goin To Sea and Murderer of Love. Rockier numbers like Empire keep the pace moving, but one can’t help but feel on the edge of the seat while listening through this record. We’re waiting for Manser and the Disciples to really let fly with some wild sounds, but unfortunately it doesn’t quite happen. Still, worth a listen.
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