Richard Young - River Through Howling Sky
by Andrew Carver
published: 19 / 2 / 2004
Label:
Jagjaguwar
Format: CD
intro
"Fabulous " fifth album from avant garde and experimental Glaswegian musician Richard Youngs, which proves "a must-have for anyone who want to see a guitarist head off the beaten track"
From the first stinging guitar line of 'River Through Howling Sky', Youngs serves notice that last year's 'Airs of the Ear' was no fluke; if anything, 'River' passes even the high watermark set be 'Air'. 'Fountain of Light' starts things off with a searing guitar note that launches out into space. It strikes out again and again over the thrum of electronics and a deep thump of percussion (as well as sharper percussive raps and the tinkle of bells). Youngs sings tunefully and plaintively of birds flown, seeds sown and trees grown. You can imagine his lyrics over a bed of bucolic English folk music — and the work of the Incredible String Band and others is certainly part of his musical makeup — but his eerie, near improv music has taken a wide step clear of his influences. Groups like the No Neck Blues Band would be a closer touchstone still. Youngs’ music adheres to its own internal logic while staying clear of conventional time and the more predictable scales and melodies. The second track,'Blossom' adds scrabbling notes in the higher registers but otherwise stays faithful to the musical strategies of the first track. He sings in a slightly higher register for 'Sky Is Upon You', and plays in a more acoustic mode while electronic modulations fill up the remaining space before more electronic stringbending returns to do battle. But 'Fountain',' Blossom' and 'Sky' are merely tasters for the final sprawl of set closer 'Red Cloud Singular' which encapsulates and extends the motifs of its predecessors over the 44-minute album’s remaining 25 minutes. 'River Through Howling Sky' is a fabulous piece of work, a must-have for anyone who want to see a guitarist head off the beaten track.
Track Listing:-
1 Fountains of Light2 Blossom
3 Sky is Upon You
4 Red Cloud Singular
Label Links:-
http://www.jagjaguwar.com/https://www.facebook.com/Jagjaguwar
https://plus.google.com/+jagjaguwarinc/posts
https://twitter.com/jagjaguwar
http://jagjaguwarinc.tumblr.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/SecretlyJag
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
most viewed reviews
current edition
Serious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning DewMarika Hackman - Big Sigh
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart