Click here for reviews of Agitated Radio Pilot - "Your Turn to go it alone"
Agitated Radio Pilot - "A Field Day"
Two years after the monumental double albums "World Winding Down" and "The Rural Arcane" (I have reviews of both published), Rusted Rail records brought us a new release from Ireland's finest folk act, Agitated Radio Pilot. How I've waited!
"A Field Day" comes presented as a 3" CDR in a just as small, simple package and it contains 6 tracks, which should label it EP or mini-CD or something. I say EP and you know what I mean.
More unique pseudo-folk brilliance from the Rusted Rail label, this time in the form of Ireland's Agitated Radio Pilot. The group, which encompasses a
somewhat rotating group of contributors with David Colohan at its centre, creates music which is unusual yet seamlessly enticing. The lead singer's
crisp voice is unmistakeable, a distinct mish-mash of Johnny Cash, Stephin Merritt, and Leonard Cohen, his singing never far off from mere speaking.
Instrumentally, A Field Day is based largely around various stringed instruments - including acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, and sitar -
but several other instruments help imbue personality to the proceedings. For example, the insanely beautiful title-track would not be quite as sweet
if it weren't for the double bass or the subtle addition of accordion and electronics. Meanwhile, marvellously wistful "The Heart is Deceitful Above
All Things," based around a repeated sitar line, is fitted with a superbly longing piano part; meanwhile, expansive "Far North" features longing solos
on melodica and electric guitar. Together, A Field Day is a very strong EP from Colohan and company. Unique delivery, melodic composition, and a knack
for atmosphere make these six tracks remarkably unforgettable.
"A Field Day", the latest from Agitated Radio Pilot, hits the expected high-climbing mark which David Colohan (also of United Bible Studies) seems unable to
avoid. Through a wholesale embrace of the baroque Pop masters the album glories in the simple pleasures of solid songwriting
and deft musicianship, void any trace of catholic guilt or precocious insecurity. Though the title track more than ever recalls Magnetic Fields
for the somber gait of banjo and baritonic of Colohan’s voice, subsequent "The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things" takes a turn toward the dusky
Tragically Hip, with its ringing bouzouki and kitchen percolation, and even a bit of Current 93 in the droning, teetering, Orientalist poetry of
"From the Ghost Gum Glades". For these sessions joined by four pals on a variety of instruments featured more or less soloistically to give maximum sonic
wardrobe to these six tracks, each sustaining the same taut song construction and mature even-keel. "Far North" follows this spate of fatless singles with
an extended rave-up of deep reverb and grated strings in chamber perfection. "The Drunken Poet" is a briefer outro and (surely, willfully ironic) the only
wordless track, a session of picking like analogue switches to codify the entire strand of the discs impossible DNA. Comes in RR’s standard, handmade
insert with photo paste-on and heavy sleeve.
This new release from Dave Colohan's Agitated Radio Pilot contains 6 new songs that are amongst his finest.
Dave's music is a perfect accompaniment to autumn - minor key and melancholic - although some of the songs on here
sound more upbeat than normal with a full band arrangement including double bass, mandolin, guitar, banjo, melodica,
piano and some unexpected wah-wah guitar. Wrap up warm, have a single malt and enjoy - this is a treat and a half.
Irish label Rusted Rail have released a new Agitated Radio Pilot EP, entitled A Field Day.It contains six tracks in a style that
reminds me a bit of Dave?s earlier Australia-inspired works, with a bit of Holt thrown in as well. Summery feelings, a bit of the
usual melancholia, and a nice instrumentation featuring, among others, Bean Dolan and Eddie Keenan of Resurrection Fern and The
Driftwood Manor, respectively.
Agitated Radio Pilot is singer-songwriter Dave Colohan and the six track "A Field Day" ep is his second Rusted Rail release. It is an
impressive example of modern psychedelic-folk. It may take a couple of listens to get used to but soon beguiles with its poetic and
deeply personal lyrics, and its autumnal, pastoral atmosphere. Stand out tracks include 'Far North' which rises into a wah-wah guitar
driven crescendo and 'The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things', which sounds as if Dave is being backed by a sitar.
Agitated Radio Pilot (David Colohan and cohorts) has a limited 3" CD called A Field Day out on Ireland's Rusted Rail label and it's a
6 track EP of earnest singer songwriter gear that straddles a folkish vibe. Our Business Lady is laughing at the lyrics, I heard a mention
of watching Withnail and I which is always good. The musicians play piano, melodica, accordian , banjo etc. and it all sounds really
quite delicate leaving plenty of space for the songman to do his thing. If were into the Slow Loris disc then give this a whirl. It's no
happy ride mind but a goodie to weep into the whisky glass to.
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