EAST OF THE SUN

I found this album on CD in a small local record shop for close to no money at all and decided to pick it up without any prior experience of Stone Angel. I had seen them being mentioned as playing Acid Folk in the vein of Jan Dukes De Grey, Comus and Spirogyra, a style I'm not particularly fond of. So my expectations were not high, but gosh what a pleasant surprise East Of The Sun was! It is hard to call this progressive, but regarded as an old-fashioned albeit unconventional Folk Rock album this is excellent music. I'm no expert of British Folk Rock as such, but I would say that The Albion Band's Rise Up Like The Sun (which also is a good album) is the closest comparison I can come up with. The less progressive moments of The Morrigan is also a good reference point, especially the equal reliance on male and female vocals. There are plenty of medieval influences on East Of The Sun that are foreign to bands such as Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span and Stone Angel does not rely on fiddle. There is instead a plethora of both traditional and Rock instruments including Rock drums, electric guitars and even the occasional synthesiser among the acoustic guitars, flutes, dulcimers, crumhorns (which is utilised much more tastefully than it was by Gryphon!) and whatnot!

The material is mostly traditional, but the band also writes some songs of their own in the traditional style. There is not one weak moment here - this is high class Folk Rock which is interesting and pleasant but at best only mildly progressive. I will now try my best to get my hands on the rest of this band's output.

Anyone who is into classic British Folk Rock would enjoy this album. Recommended! A solid three stars!

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