Faeland - 2021 - When I Close My Eyes

(48: 56: Green Sage Records)





















Track list:
1. Easier 4:24
2. Was 4:36
3. Little Lights 4:29
4. End of the Day 4:20
5. Long Lost 2:37
6. Ocean Song 4:04
7. Used To 4:42
8. What Will I Be? 2:14
9. Willow 4:16
10. Made to Love You 3:12
11. Tin Pan Pocket 5:44
12. To the Ones I Know and Love 4:18

Line-up:
Rebecca Nelson - vocals, piano
Jacob Morrison - guitars, banjo, E-bow, charango, vocals
with:
Martin Solomon - harp, violin, accordion, vocals
John Giblin - bass
Harry Bengough-Sutton - bass
Lizzie Tucker - bass, vocals
Rowan Sterk - drums, percussion
Rob Pemberton - drums
Antonio Moreno - drums
Jay Enticknap - piano
Wendy Partridge - vocals


UK band Faeland has a history that goes back quite a few years, but as recording artists their output has been limited to two studio productions so far. "When I Close My Eyes" is the most recent of their albums, and was self released in 2021.

Faeland are categorized as a folk band, and folk music is what we are served on this album indeed. Like with the band's first album they do appear to operate out from a singer/songwriter foundation, and with pop music sensibilities being another recurring element. By plan or accident this is music made to have a broad overall appeal with easygoing and engaging melody lines and a general reluctance to apply sounds and arrangements of a directly challenging nature - as experienced by those who listen to this music. I'm fairly certain that for the musicians performing this material there will be plenty of challenging details to cater for.

What makes this second album by Faeland markedly different from their first one is that, for starters, the mix and production appears to have been taken up a notch in quality. There has been some development in the songwriting department too, with a greater extent of instrument details and vocal details that adds folk music elements to the songs. If there are more such instances or if the difference is that these elements are highlighted in a better manner is a subject probably open to debate. The end result is that for the listener's experience there are more instances of what most people would describe as folk music present on this album.

Otherwise I note that the band maintains the inclusion of elements from other styles of music too, for this album jazz being the most notable of these and executed in a slightly more overt manner than on Faeland's first album too.

Faeland's second album is marginally better put together and executed than their debut album, and documents a band that is slowly developing their craft as a studio unit. Contemporary folk music with a firm foundation in the singer/songwriter tradition is the chosen territory of this band, and this latest album of theirs should find a lot of favor among those who have a soft spot for this specific type of music.

Olav M. Björnsen, January 2022

Links:
https://faeland.co.uk/

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