Album Details

• Artist: Village Of Spaces
• Album: Alchemy And Trust
• Label: Corleone
• Year of Release: 2011
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2011-06-27

Village of Spaces might physically be from Belfast, Maine, but their music hints that, somehow, they spend some of their time in an obscure place in the cosmos which only they can describe. The psychedelic feel of the folk on "Alchemy and Trust" helps the tracks walk a sweet line between the intimate and the majestic. This is a band that has played with its name for sometime (most notably calling themselves Uke of Spaces at one point); if they can keep themselves  a bit more easy to find, more seekers will certainly be jumping on this holy bandwagon.

Their songs have been recorded when able, usually on the road and with the help of whatever family or new friend has dropped by. The ease with which songs like "Ovum's Influence" and "Mountainside" unfold such genuine emotion and sprawling message from the simplest of melodies is testament enough to their honesty and genius. This is not a typical freak folk pose by well-heeled, sane as a banker college kids; this is music grown slowly, joyfully, and tested by the road to help burn off the bullshit.

The vocal interplay of Amy Moon and Dan B. center all the tracks, but are especially evocative on the jittery minimal "Buoy Gong" and "Forget Me Not," providing intimacy and off-kilter melody.

Any band that lists Alice Coltrane, Harry Partch and The Fugs as influences is all right by me, as it hints at their aims and their hearts. Village of Spaces have an umbrella big enough for all, with music that embraces chance, fun, the holy and naughty, and the guts to explore their cosmic muse with poetry and improvisational glee. "Alchemy and Trust" is a good place to jump aboard if you haven't already.

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