Search - Boduf Songs :: Boduf Songs

Dark and unique UK folk

somethingexcellent | Lincoln, NE United States | 11/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Boduf Songs is the project of Southampton, UK dweller Mat Sweet (who will never be confused with the much more poppy artist who shares nearly the same name). He recorded a batch of tracks at home with an acoustic guitar, some cymbals, a violin bow, a toy piano, and a computer. The result is something that's grounded in dark folk music, but at times darts away with a deft hand, adding a touch of surreal to the finger-picked tracks.



At just under a half-hour in length, Boduf Songs is a short release, but works well because it never allows itself to become too redundant in that time. "Puke A Pitch Black Rainbow To The Sun" opens the release with backwards looped guitars and some gentle acoustic melodies over the top while Sweet adds his soft baritone to the mix. Sustained bowed washes sweep into the mix every once in awhile, but always do so in a subtle way, adding just a touch of warmth to the track that is otherwise haunting. "Claimant Reclaimed" moves at a slightly faster pace with a repeated acoustic melody phrase and more soft vocals while sharp hits of filtered cymbals ring out and distort to add punctuation.



Lyrically, the album is almost as oppressive as an album like I See A Darkness by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. Even on songs that feel a bit lighter in their instrumentation (like "This One Is Cursed" and "Grains") are weighed down with a look over the shoulder at a grim spectre. On one track (the instrumental "Ape Thanks Lamb"), the clouds finally part for almost two minutes, and it feels like a small revelation, even if it doesn't last. Given the limited resources that Sweet had in making the release and everything that he got out of them, I can't wait until he has even more options at his disposal (which he currently does, as he's already working on a more ambitious follow-up).



(from almost cool music reviews)"

The wonderful sounds of silence

Russell E. Scott | Austin, TX | 10/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I plead a bit of naivety here since folk is not a category where I spend my CD dollars. I've heard some mention comparisons to Iron & Wine but I never connected with any of his stuff on initial trial runs so I can't support those comments. The main consideration and qualification of legitimacy with me was the fact that this album was being issued by kranky who received it as a demo. They were so impressed with the quality, depth, and originality that they sent it out untouched. Yes I can verify that Englishman Matt Sweet can write a folk song with enough depth and feeling to thrust himself into 'hey man, have you heard' underground network. In addition to the guitar, Matt's use of select sounds thrown in at the right moment gives this the added composer credit. He wrote, played, and recored the whole affair out of his home. Boduf Songs comes off ambient and edgy, filing this music under unusual as a success. With the winter season just around the corner, I can imagine this album as the 30 minute soundtrack for those gray, melancholy moments. It can help ward off the doom and gloom or it's opposite, help usher it in. Whatever, the promise of a real studio album should keep interest keen, introspective, and personal. Kudos to kranky for discovery and restraint."