Misophone - A Floodplain Mind (2023)

Not ones to hurry things, A Floodplain MInd, Misophone’s latest
album has been over a decade in the making but rest assured S.Herbert and M. A Welsh, the sole members of this reticent British group, haven’t been wasting their time. Indeed, in this carefully crafted set of songs, they have reached the heights that their earlier releases hinted that they could and captured in this wide ranging, ambitious collection something to savour: proper, truly grown-up songwriting. Misophone have always found their place in the silent spaces between the world-weary and the whimsical - but here their songs reach a new-found focus and maturity - lyrics that seek solace in the woods, rivers and open countryside of a forgotten England, but that hint too at the darkness of the night, and meticulous melodies that evoke their wide-ranging and ever-expanding influences (the Elephant SIx Collective, the songs and music of Bagpuss, Daniel Johnston, The Smiths, Taraf de Haidouks and the incidental music of Randall and Hopkirk (deceased)).
The range of collaborators has increased too - with beautiful guitar contributed by Robin Allender (Gravenhurst, The Allender Band etc) on Snow, and by bedroom pop provocateur Boys Age (on agoraphobic little nightmare Close the Door). Sublime vocals have been lent by Maja Lena (on Voices), Noa Mal (on Close the Door), India Blue (on Love lies Bleeding), Aubben Renee (on William and Mary) and Rachel Hayward (on Apricity)… hell, there’s even a mini-orchestra on The Flood, the album’s grand final statement (beautifully arranged by the wonderful Tom Rocton who once more contributes
his own fantastic trombone playing across the album). Actor and kind soul Maxence Danet-Fauvel provides artful spoken word on It Snowed Today, as does Zazil Yakin Xipé on Sky (as well as adding trumpet, synths, bass and growling at other points). Light must also be shone upon composer Chris Vibberts whose magic is sprinkled across a number of songs (playing with exceptional clarity. sitar, lapsteel. Khim, marxophone and melodica) - he is a master of his craft and the album wouldn’t be the same without his thoughtful contributions. There’s even hurdy gurdy on folk traditional William and Mary (courtesy of Dutch musician Matthew de Roode) and Nickelharpa lending a scraping authenticity to Voices (played with grace by Lewis Jones). It’s an undeniably international affair.
A Floodplain Mind is nothing less than Misophone’s masterpiece. Time to get stuck in its silt-slicked tributaries.