Genre: Gaelic Folk

01 Skybear
02 Cymru
03 Stone Ring In Open Glade
04 Woodland Trail To The Lake
05 Y Golwg (The Sight)
06 13 Firewoods
07 Crosswise Cut The Apple In Two
08 Igwja Dher (Eggdrasil)
09 Evocation To Green Elohim
10 Kateri, Lily Of The Iriquois
11 Mynd Am Dro Yn Coeden (To Go For A Walk In The Woods)
12 Forest Dweller

Little Somebody Records is a new independent label that chose its direction in folk (psych-folk) music and its surrounding sounds. It is focused on production of limited hand-made releases and building a family of creative artists. I had an honour to musically get familiar with one of the projects signed to Little Somebody – Green Mistletoe and their “Forest Dweller” album. I enjoy folk music in most of its foms and manifestations as well as discovering new bands in this genre and when I found out that Green Mistletoe is classified as gaelic/celtic folk I was glad enough to be impatient about receiving their new CD, limited to 366 copies. Even more was I glad when I discovered the sound that awaited me inside the “handmade” layout. Indeed the layout is marvellous – one can say this CD is “folkish” from music to its production: it is presented in natural card box (no industrial artificial materials as plastic!) with pleasant green prints all over the box. The cover artwork made me think to “nature” and “spirituality” – it is difficult to describe in words what is seen, but the first thought that came to my mind was “numerous spirits with human faces embraced by the manifestations of nature”. Inside this cardbox the listener finds the CD in another paper package, a sticker and (which is especially valuable) a paper with lyrics!

The name “Green Mistletoe” is symbolic. Mistletoe is the common name for a group of plants that grow attached to and within the branches of a tree or shrub. Mistletoe bears fruit at the time of the Winter Solstice, the birth of the new year, and may have been used in solstitial rites in Druidic Britain as a symbol of immortality. In Celtic mythology and in druid rituals, it was considered an antidote to poison. For “Forest Dweller” album the band consisted of Brian Waters, who is responsible for voice, music, words (except words for “13 Firewoods” that are from a traditional Gaelic folklore song) and Jennifer G. Lee, singing on “Y Golwg”.

Generally the whole album reminds some kind of a ritual with all the songs and narrations – especially when listened to at night. It transfers atmosphere of magic, of some sacred acts, brings the listener back to the times when druids were not just a part of myths and legends for most population, but real and powerful characters. The sound on the album is based mainly on acoustic guitars and vocals – male and female, with much reverberation on - and that’s what makes the atmosphere of the album what it is – tender, soft, a bit shy, timid sound. It even makes me think to being performed not on the guitar, but on the harp. The aforementioned means of expression are accompanied by wooden pipes (as on track Crosswise Cut The Apple in Two), sounds of nature and percussion from time to time on such tracks as Igwja Dher (Yggdrasil) or Kateri, Lily of the Iriquois. From the very first sounds this album makes one think to In Gowan Ring, one of the most significant bands in the genre, also coming from the US. I hope Green Mistletoe is going to advance and rejoice the admirers of gaelic folk music with their enchanting soundscapes.