Songs of Green Pheasant

It's also one of those albums that seems to grow with each listen, and despite the somewhat limited circumstances in recording the release, Sumpner has created something that sounds truly unique and sounds a little bit like Mojave 3 mixed in equal parts with early Flying Saucer Attack. "I Am Daylights" sets the tone of the album with repeated acoustic guitar melodies and layered vocals that are all bathed in a warm reverb while a closing recorder part lifts things ever so slightly. "Nightfall (For Boris P.)" is even better, following with acoustic and electric guitar that wind around one another while soaring vocal melodies take the track to sublime places. The closing, rocking section swirls with a dreamy shimmer that puts other more high-technology artists to shame.

Other tracks bring to mind influences of UK avant folk, as even the short "Knulp" keeps things interesting with some almost random percussion and subtle changes while "The Wraith Of Loving" calls to mind the aforementioned Flying Saucer attack in more ways than one with the repeated lo-fi drum machine backdrop and multiple layers of guitar before dissolving into an almost oceanfront breeze of sprightly sounds. Really, that's one of the major strengths of the album, as even though it tends to mine similar musical territory, Sumpner keeps things interesting with small musical turns, great vocal harmonies, and inventive instrumentation (like the swirling electronic guitars, shakers and chimes in "Truth But Not Fact"). Songs Of Green Pheasant is an unexpected gem that's both rustic and psychedelic.

(from almost cool music reviews)

This release is possibly one of the most mellow yet uneasy to listen to so far. Recorded back in 2002/03 and sent in as a demo, Songs Of Green Pheasant (aka Duncan Sumpner) is a murkey dark yet somehow beautiful ppiece of work. As the artwork depicts, the music feels like a primative and middle aged form of folk... though the hints of electronic guitar and the odd noise freakout gives this album a unique feel.

The 10 songs all feature beautiful multi-harmony slow burn melodies which are almost like The Beach Boys or Belle & Sebastian in places. Nightfall is one of the stand out songs, slow guitar plucks layered with feedback towards the end all the time awash with mumble vocals... its wonderful!

Each song is almost a story, The Burning Man evokes Paegan travellers... maybe not so much the lyrics but the whole feel of each song is so so relaxed and intimate yet dark at the same time... I really can not fault this and the latest string of releases from FatCat. Eacho one has been stunning, totally unique and entertaining at the same time.

My only worry is that if there is ever another Songs Of Green Pheasant album it may loose some of the charm which has made this release so good. The album feels perfect in its almost unfinished and handmade state. Adding some well known producer or simply recordiding it a full studio with a swanky mixing desk may well ruin it. And that would be a major shame. Lets just hope in another 3 or so years we get to hear another album of this calibre.