One of the things I really dislike about genres is they can lead some people to believe they know more than know. Just as some audiophiles believe they can judge sound from a photo.
Second Circle The Horizon by Sally Anne Morgan, released on Thrill Jockey Records in June of last year, can certainly fall under “Folk”. There’s a banjo for Pete’s sake. And fiddle for crying out loud!
From the liner notes:
Geologist plays hurdy gurdy on Dog’s Dream. Sean Dunlap plays synthesizer on Calico Summoning, Night Mint, and Callahan. Joseph Dejarnette plays bass on Callahan.
All other instruments (fiddle, banjo, electric and acoustic guitar, piano, various percussion) and arrangements by Sally Anne Morgan.
Who, in their right mind, doesn’t love a little hurdy-gurdy?
I’m a fan of music that leans toward drone, toward the deceptively minimal. And I say deceptively minimal because when you pay attention you realize that music like the stuff on Second Circle The Horizon is as simple, and beautiful, as a forest. And if we look at “forest” the way some people look at genres like “Folk” (and photos), we might believe we know more than we know and even worse that they’re all the same.