Folk music was once the language of impoverished people singing about their first born getting hung by poshos and the cries of a people in chains, repressed by other poshos.

Then, at some point in history, folk music stopped being a language, but rather, something powered by its sense of own self worth. Riffs recycled, along with the tin cans that once housed organic pulses and the like. It’s enough to make you puke, especially when the NuFolkies end up flogging their faux DIY charms to a Daewoo commercial or some junk.

Twee and insipid seems to be the way to get ahead in advertising.

However, in amongst all that horribly cute-as-a-kitten-chasing-a-butterfly acoustic nonsensery, we’ve got a truly wonderful band who have eschewed all that eco-pop guff in favour of mixing folkie styles with something infinitely more interesting.

Imagine Broadcast or Stereolab if someone cut their electricity off and you’ll be ambling into the territory of the wonderful and beguiling Maladies of Bellafontaine.

With lyrics that sound half thought up, half automatically written in some weird cult initiation, songs stroll into your brain with odd reflections on the minutiae of life through strings of sausages, long
socks and lorries. All grown from instruments nicked from the toy shop and fizzing analogue electronics. They’re catchy as hell too and have nice clothes. What more do you need from band? Sure, they’re as cute as a button, but scratch the surface and there’s some wrong wiring in there which makes this band a truly pleasing and fascinating prospect.

The Maladies Of Bellafontaine MySpace

This was a guest blog by dear old Mof Gimmers from Electric Roulette. If you like music, go there please.

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