| Ancestral Swamp is the 20th full-length album by legendary rambler, cartoonist, "outsider" folk singer, and guitarist Michael Hurley. It arrives just in the nick of time for the rabid Snockophile. A batch of new vittles and encores of some of his classic tunes, Ancestral Swamp bubbles with laid-back ease and tremolodic goodness. Most songs have the simplest of arrangements: Hurley singing solo, accompanied by his guitar, Wurlizter organ, or fiddle. Tara Jane O'Neil helps lend a nice touch to "El Dorado," and Snock calls upon frequent past accomplices Dave Reisch and Louie Longmeyer for their graceful touch on sleepy winners like "New River Blues" and "Gamblin' Charlie." As with all Hurley's albums, once one sets the needle down, one is put in a certain peace and place. His voice and songs are unique, shuffling with characters and visions clear and wild. With Ancestral Swamp, it seems Snock has left his front door open a bit wider than usual. If you lean in close, you can inhale a little of the vapor rising off the water, and enjoy a tale or two. Snock has personally test marketed The Ancestral Swamp and the results are in: "The Ancestral Swamp is actually a good party record, even though fraught with dirges of dying and death." 30-second MP3 excerpts: Knockando
Dying Crapshooter's Blues
Lonesome Graveyard
New River Blues
El Dorado
1st Precinct Blues
Light Green Fellow
Gambling Charlie
Streets Of Laredo
When I Get Back Home
She Got A Mathematic If you have a recent version of iTunes software on your computer, clicking on the link immediately below should open the iTunes application and take you to that album's iTunes page-- where you can listen to samples and buy this album, or individual tracks: Go to iTunes to browse downloads for Michael Hurley "The Ancestral Swamp" This title is also available for download at AmazonMP3 For a complete listing of Midheaven exclusive albums available for download from the iTunes Music service, please visit the Midheaven Mailorder/Revolver USA Downloadables page. |
