845 - A Hawk and a Hacksaw "The way the wind blows"

Where the previous two albums from Leicestershire based A Hawk And A Hacksaw were dark and dusty delights that happily referenced such disparate genres as the Spaghetti Western, Captain Beefheart and Raymond Scott, their new LP 'The Way The Wind Blows' is a far lighter affair that shifts it focus squarely onto folk traditions. Sharing two members with Beirut (Jeremy Barnes and Heather Trost), A Hawk And A Hacksaw explore a similar aural topography - with the opening 'In The River' full of lazy horns, wheezing melodies and waltzing accordion, all of which conspire to create a wonderfully rolling Bavarian folk atmosphere. Partly recorded in a remote Romanian village with members of Fanfare Ciocarlia (recent winners of Best European Artist at the Radio 3 World Music Awards), 'The Way The Wind Blows' really does sound timeless; conjuring up images of dusky mountains and bustling villages. Choosing a dramatic stomp that has a distinctly Turkish flavour, the title track is a rich and rimy affair that juxtaposes an ominous accordion line with some piquant strings which prevent the piece becoming dour or overcast. From here, 'Song For Joseph' introduces militaristic drums to a pathos drenched vocal that will keep pulling you in despite its poignant undertow, 'God Bless The Ottoman Empire' is a jaunty slice of indie-folk that wouldn't sit out of place on college radio, whilst 'GaDJe Sirba' cross-breeds Eastern Europe with Duke Ellington style horns. It works far better in the ear than it does on paper... Closing with the couplet of 'Salt Water' and 'There Is A River In Gailsteo' (the former a brooding piano and string epic, the latter a tender shimmering lament), The Hawk And The Hacksaw have made an album that sticks to its musical ethics doggedly whilst losing not a jot of listenability.

Boomkat

Enregistré pour sa majeure partie dans un village roumain en compagnie d’un groupe des Balkans, The Way The Wind Blows affirme haut et fort l’orientation musicale d’A Hawk And A Hacksaw. Ce troisième album de Jeremy Barnes (batterie, accordéon, voix, ex-Neutral Milk Hotel et ex-Broadcast) et Heather Trost (violon), duo qui se cache derrière A Hawk And A Hacksaw, termine ainsi la première trilogie de son histoire, avec ce nouvel opus particulièrement tourné par l’est, son folklore et ses fanfares. Accompagné justement par l’une d’elles, la fanfare Ciocarlia (trompette, tuba...), sans compter la participation du jeune prodige Beirut (à la trompette sur deux titres), A Hawk And A Hacksaw nous emporte en quelques secondes dans les Balkans, d’abord avec des titres chantés, à la fois accessibles et entraînants, avant d’aller plus loin dans le folklore avec des compositions instrumentales plus chargées. The Way The Wind Blows n’est pourtant pas un disque pastiche ou exercice de style, mais une longue complainte vivante et vibrante.

Autres Directions

1. In The River
2. The Way The Wind Blows
3. Song For Joseph
4. Fernando’s Giampari
5. God Bless The Ottoman Empire
6. Waltz for Strings and Tuba
7. Oporto
8. Gadje Sirba
9. The Sparrow
10. Salt Water
11. There is A River In Galisteo