London's Noah and the Whale have a beautiful, rambling tune in Rocks and Daggers. It's what music must have sounded like before it became a commodity. Pure. A song more suited to the front room with a large gathering of slighty intoxicated friends than a stage. And that's its allure. They forgo the folk-tronica, and instead, focus on more organic means of creating music using whatever seems to be lying around at the moment as instruments. Acoustic guitar, some Ozarks violin, old snare drums, and bottles all figure in.
Even more suprising, for a folk song, is its diversity. The first three quarters sound like the Magic Numbers and British Sea Power jamming on Walton's mountain while the last bit would make the Beta Band proud. At least, that's my take. One things for sure, you won't be able to get this song out of your head; the hallmark of any great single. It's the sort of thing you'll be humming all day long.
In Short: This English take on traditional American folk music warms the belly.
Listen: To Rocks and Daggers via the band's Myspace page.
What next?More by Noah and the Whale? More reviews? More folk, or indie?