(4AD/Remote Control)

More bar-raising folk rock from the imaginative pen of John Darnielle

You can’t accuse John Darnielle of lacking ambition or sheer artistic determination – he has given us a song cycle about the child abuse he suffered which he turned into a record that was harrowing and cathartic yet at the same time melodic, accessible and, ultimately, triumphant (2005’s The Sunset Tree). Following on from 2006’s Get Lonely comes his latest masterwork, the enigmatic, mystical and inspired Heretic Pride. This time, he has turned his attention away from the real world into a more fantastical landscape of lake monsters, cults and spy novel writers. It’s life Jim, but not (quite) as we know it. For these songs, Darnielle has continued the rousing folk rock that made The Mountain Goats worldwide indie stars, but added more haunting, storybook arrangements to the mix as well. Hence, the gentle, string-filled San Bernadino displays some of his most quietly dramatic songwriting to date. Sax Rohmer #1 and the title track have more of the stomping acoustic guitar and belting yet tuneful Darnielle vocals we’re familiar with, but the likes of Autoclave and New Zion showcase new approaches, with a Morse-code-like pulse and subtle reggae hint respectively. Meanwhile, tunes like In The Craters On The Moon, Lovecraft In Brooklyn and How To Embrace A Swamp Creature actually succeed in living up to the immense promise of their titles! A simply great record.

****½

MATT THROWER

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