Twelve Thousand Days – The Birds Sing As Bells (Album FinalMuzik)
Genre/Influences: Chanson, Psychedelic, Neo-Folk, Experimental.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: The duo Martyn Bates (Attrition) – Alan Trench released this latest opus by the end of 2021. It’s their sixth album and the third one released by FinalMuzik.
Content: Bates and Trench move on there where previous works stopped. They again got inspired by a kind of free-style mixing elements of pure Chanson together with Neo-Folk, Psychedelic music and Ballads. They sometimes remind me of the work of The Legendary Pink Dots.
+ + + : This is a new and totally minimal-kind of production. The work sounds as an invitation to travel and dream away with a touch of ‘World Music’ on top. Both artists used several acoustic instruments injecting authenticity to their work. It sounds graceful and immersive.
– – – : The album is missing a true climax.
Conclusion: I get a similar feeling with this album as its predecessors; an easy and pleasant listening without absolute ups not downs.
Best songs: “Two Ravens”, “Taile Of A Charm”, “At The Fair Of St. Botolph”.
Rate: 7.
Listen to “The Birds Sing As Bells”:
Label: www.finalmuzik.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Final-Muzik/85814529244
About Twelve Thousand Days
Twelve Thousand Days is the duo of Martyn Bates and Alan Trench, formed in 2000. Bates is known as one half of Eyeless In Gaza and for his work with Attrition; Trench has recorded as Temple Music and Orchis. The pair mix chanson, neo-folk, psychedelic and experimental writing, played largely on acoustic instruments.
Their first album, “In The Garden Of Wild Stars”, appeared on Musica Maxima Magnetica in 2000. “The Devil In The Grain” followed on Iceflower and Trisol in 2001, “At The Landgate” in 2005 and “From The Walled Garden” on Shining Day in 2006. After a long pause the duo returned with “Insect Silence” in 2018 and “Field’s End” in 2020.
“The Birds Sing As Bells”, released at the end of 2021, is their sixth album and their third for the Italian label FinalMuzik. “The Boatman On The Downs” followed in 2023 and “They Have All Gone Into The World Of Light” on limited CD in 2024.
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