There’s a saying that cream rises to the top and, while it may not be true for the majority of bands in this part of the world, hearing this album from Loch Awe made me hope that is was possible. Being from Edinburgh, it is no particular surprise that Loch Awe (Jack McKay Fletcher, Joy Everett, Matthew Liam Healy and associates) practice their vocation in the folk genre. The difference, however, is that they don’t live in the past and on “Artificial Life From a Digital Sea”, they show that they can use those allegories of the past to express the discontent of the empty life of the disassociated middle classes.
There’s nothing as obvious as a political statement here, of course, but the feeling remains that this is more subversive than the exemplary execution would imply. At their most traditional - “Resign”, for example, Loch awe show a mastery of the form that easily convinces but it is their stylistic diversions - “How it Began”, especially - that show the kind of fragile beauty that entrances the ears and touches the soul. Loch Awe suggest things where others would shout them.
“Artificial Life From a Digital Sea” is a remarkably relaxed album too with understated performances and simple, eloquent musicianship. Hopefully, we will hear more from this band.
The album is available as a free download from Bandcamp.