Erland & The Carnival can easily be filed under the category of ‘underrated’, having been the brainchild of legendary guitarist Simon Tong and Erland Cooper following a chance meeting. Their fusion of Scottish and English folk with a modern twist formed the basis of the last two studio albums Erland & The Carnival (2010) and Nightingale (2011).

The album opens with its melancholic title track, which Erland tackles in brooding Celtic form, with vocals akin to Ian McCulloch’s. Despite the melancholy tone, there is an underlying tinge of optimism in the melodies, which throws you into an assortment of emotions. ‘Wrong’ takes the album down a darker route, stamping it’s authority onto the album with Erland’s ability to make the listener cling onto his every word. However, as before, the dark tone is lifted by a subtle, underlying light-hearted tone via xylophone.

‘Quiet Love’ returns Erland & The Carnival to their original folk-indie form. It’s worth paying close attention to catch Paul Weller sneaking in for backing vocals  along with his beautifully serene work on guitar. Atmospherically, the first three tracks of Closing Time are rather dark and heavy, however, breathing space is offered with ‘I Am Joan’, providing a gentle lift. The song enjoys a sporadic structure, providing a fun beat while they experiment with a psychedelic sound.  If ‘I Am Joan’ is the experiment on the album, ‘Radiation’ directs us straight back to stripped-back simplicity, before drums and bass build back onto each other for ‘Is It Long ‘Til It’s Over?’ ‘Birth Of A Nation’ throws some rock ‘n’ roll back into the mixture of Closing Time by speeding up the pace with Tong’s riffs. It also contains a certain anthemic vibe, close in nature to The National which makes the song a standout track on the album.

Bright warmth filters through into ‘It Should Have Begun (But It’s Hopeless)’ as Erland’s vocals drift through in an echoing, electrical haze. Set against the simple melodies, the keyboards provide the track with a refreshing sweetness, which paves the way perfectly for ‘They’re Talking About You Again’. Although Closing Time is an album of love and heartbreak, ‘They’re Talking About You Again’ is a track that is guaranteed to tug on even the most hardened of heartstrings, with pulsing synths stepping aside for gentle guitar riffs.

Erland & The Carnival’s debut album, along with Nightingale were products of a group project of the highest quality, rather than an offering from a ‘band’. Although it is a far-cry from the modernized folklore tales of previous albums, Closing Time is no different. The album is also a showcase of raw British folk-indie talent, which has been fused with the quirkiness of psychedelia. This is all summarized in the album’s swansong, ‘Daughter’, a vintage lullaby of soundbites, twinkling keys and brooding vocals. Emerging from such a pool of talent and fresh ideas of 13 musicians, Closing Time is one of those rarities that demands to be listened to in full in order to do such an accumulation of talent justice.

Nicky Lee-Delisle

@ManicNicky