The term “freak folk” is bandied about in reference to anything even remotely Gong-ish these days. That is unfortunate because it takes away from the actual product.
In reference to the new Silver Summit album on Language of Stone, it does not do any justice to the truly inspiring music to be found here. Sondra’s voice hangs right above the delicate sometimes electrified Rachel’s rehash. Global in scope, vast in perceptive and utterly directionless would all nobly describe this release. The vocal harmonies repeat and drone and hardly build to anything at all. I would call this long-hair lullaby, or acoustic trace-rock. Perfect for those who wish for lush and frightening bed-time musicor enjoy falling asleep to Six Organs. This reminds me of some of the records my mom used to play twenty years ago, memorial haze included. The songs do not play out as a cohesive album however. They do not support physical activities while this is being played. Don’t try to run around the block while listening to this music for you will surely trip. More art-gallery camp-fire fugues and renaissance faire than freak-folk for certain and absolutely worth it.
