SOTD #127 // Skinny Lister: ‘Plough And Orion’

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What do you get if you mix the forgotten genius of Shack to a base of solid, historial British folk such as Fairport Convention, and add a twist of the recent Noughties nu-folk renassiance? Skinny Lister, that’s who.

Coming together in only in the last year, Dan, Lorna, Maxwell, Samuel C.Brace and Daniel have crafted some wonderfully simple and evocative music. So much so in fact, that TLOBF are a little late to the part – Tom Robinson and Steve Lamacq have already chirped up about this guys on 6Music. Just finishing a Narrowboat tour from Linslade to Camden Town, the band seem to be more authentic and schooled in the history of folk rather than the rather troublesome Mumford & Sons.

The beginning of ‘Plough And Orion’ makes me thing instantly of forgotten Northerner’s Shack. It’s that perfectly sparse production, slightly nasal vocals and crystal clear acoustic guitars. It’s only when the female harmony kicks in does it hark back to something more folk-like. When the mandolin and violin combine with the uplifting guitar riff towards the end of the track do you suddenly realise the track has peaked at just the right time: it finishes, and you instantly press play again.

Skinny Lister: ‘Plough And Orion’