I’ll remain forever sleeping

DavidThomasBroughton - Unmarked Grave.

If you didn't know any better, you'd think this record came out 30 years ago, and that some archivist had recently blown the dust off some old acetates to discover this lost masterpiece. But the truth is, this is brand new. It came out yesterday, in fact (in the US at least). Spanning 5 songs in 40 minutes, the albume sees davidthomasbroughton wandering the pastoral landscape, arm and arm with Nick Drake, Antony, Devenrda Banhart and the weight of the world. It's an absolutely gorgeous album, and probably one of the best of the year.

The album was actually recorded in one long take in Wrangthorn Church, Leeds, England, with very little tampering in the mix afterwards. You can hear the amazing reverb from the church's old walls, and the cold empty space. It's a fantastic statement -- it's like we get to listen in on a private concert, or a bedroom rehearsal. You can hear his vocals shift a bit when he leans back from the mic, the creek of his feet on the floor. And when the a second vocal track (arranged with a looping pedal) comes in about halfway through, it's absolutely beautiful.

Originally released this year on birdwar records, Plug Research has released the album in the US. It was just released yesterday (Tuesday), and can be purchased directly from the label. I highly recommend it.