You Are Wolf – hare // hunter // moth // ghost (2023)


Review:
The album is based on theme of transformation, inspired by Kerry’s own experiences of recent debilitating chronic illness, and transition to a non-binary identity. The album’s songs, made up of traditional and folklore-inspired originals, include metamorphoses between the natural/supernatural worlds, between human/animal, dark/light, and gender binaries. A celebration of nature and fluidity, there are queer ghosts, vengeful stepdaughters, seductive foxes and witch’s spells, told in an utterly modern and individual style that draws on their contemporary classical background, as well as drone, electronica and alt-pop influences. Kerry uses words from three of the UK and Ireland’s most eminent nature writers, Robert MacFarlane (writing a new lyric for Kerry in ‘Blue Men’), Nick Hayes and Kerri Ni Dochartaigh. ‘Herne/Abbots Bromley Horn Dance’ also features English folk star Sam Lee as a guest vocal. The album comes after four years of chronic illness, and was recorded remotely to fit with Kerry’s abilities. The making of the album was physically challenging and a way to begin to return to singing. They had to rely more on their own instrumentation, so went back to their old teenage years of piano and flute playing! Kerry experimented with prepared piano and improvisation, and mixed traditional composition/songwriting with playing with material in the studio. Kerry also co-engineered and co-produced for the first time, alongside regular producer MaJiKer (Camille, Gaggle, Berywam), who brings his electronica and pop sensibilities to these mostly traditional songs. You Are Wolf’s bandmates on second album, Keld, added to the palate: Sam Hall on ‘cello, bass and backing vocals, and Peter Ashwell on vibraphone and marimba. Ben See (Ben and Dom) provided additional backing vocals and Hannah Dilkes provided trombone. — bancamp


   


Track List:
01. Reynardine
02. Twa Magicians (The Lady and the Blacksmith Lass)
03. winter solstice
04. Hare Song 1
05. Herne ⁄ Abbots Bromley Horn Dance
06. Hare Song 2
07. The Trees in the Wood
08. King Henry
09. I'll Weave My Love A Garland
10. Girl As Wolf
11. Blue Men


Media Report:
Genre: alternative folk
Country: UK
Format: FLAC
Format/Info: Free Lossless Audio Codec
Bit rate mode: Variable
Channel(s): 2 channels
Sampling rate: 44.1 KHz
Bit depth: 16 bits
Compression mode: Lossless
Writing library: libFLAC 1.2.1 (UTC 2007-09-17)


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