Hidden Shoal Recordings has announced the official release of the album The Green by American ambient experimental pop duo Boxharp.
The Green is a startlingly beautiful space that sees the intermingling of the ancient and modern, the handcrafted and the technologically enhanced. Lunar half-light, crackling fires and legends weave amid aching synths, dizzying digital edits and startling atmospheres – all clothed in the inimitable tones of vocalist Wendy Allen. Akin to classic dreampop, stripped of the guitars and rebuilt with the parts of old gramophones, twine and birdsong.
The title track exudes a kind of earthbound celestialism that makes it at once intimate and expansive. ‘Hick’s Farewell’ and ‘Leatherwing Bat’ have the feel of eerie Celtic folksongs re-imagined as affecting synthpop. Lovable pop nugget ‘Konnarock VA’ nestles alongside airy tapestries like ‘The Moon’s The North Wind’s Cookie’ and ‘Rootfires’. The intangible is rendered tactile; the prosaic mystical.
The Green also features backing vocals by Will Johnson (Centro-Matic), who recently toured with Monsters of Folk, and piano and organ from recent Hidden Shoal signing Liam Singer.
“It is this dualism, between the waste emotions and the logic, the ancient and the future, the technology and the organic sounds, that makes Boxharp, and The Green such an interesting listen. This, and the undisputed fact that Boxharp make adoringly delightful pop music.” – Luna Kafe on The Green
“shows that experimental pop needn’t sacrifice the pop element to be interesting and original” – Music Musings and Miscellany on the Loam Arcane EP
Boxharp recently featured in a January 2010 article in British newspaper The Guardian as one of David Bowie’s current favourite artists, and promptly received a full-page feature on Bowie’s official website.
The Green is now available worldwide in CD and digital formats through Hidden Shoal Recordings and all good third party stores. Purchase the album here and read a full press release here.
Boxharp – Cloy Boxharp – Cloy
