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Around the Folly and Down Hill

by Keith Seatman

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about

Its sci-fi meets pagan - pastoral soundscapes fits the vibe of Giles Eyre’s spooky folly. Seatman’s odd melodies sit with industrial repetition to convey the scares of the synth laden themes and incidental scene setting pieces of early 70s through early 80s kids TV wondrously whilst at the same time creating an imagined history of this medieval building. Jim Jupp from the mighty Ghost Box contribute extra production (which is always a seal of approval)
Jon Mills (Shindig Magazine issue 39 May 2014)

The playful psychedelia is still very much to the fore as is a sense of trepidation and disquiet here bolstered by some definite hauntological touches both musically and via the albums source of inspiration - games played near a folly on Pepperbox Hill in Wiltshire. The album's blithe, impish nature is utterly infectious and it's nicely
sequenced to provide a definite sense of narrative to run throughout leading us to the albums deliciously creepy denouement on 'A Gathering of the Odd'. Keith has produced an album filled with life and joy, and a little trepidation just to keep things
interesting, and it is heartily recommended.
Ian Holloway (Wonderful Wooden Reasons & Quiet World)

I've been mulling this one over for quite some time. While it was apparent almost immediately that this was a very fine record indeed, the fuller extent of its nature took its sweet time to reveal itself to me. This, I should point out, is no fault of the record itself, but rather a clash with the way that I find myself listening to the music that I intend to share with you folks. Writing four or five of these reviews a week around work and study life doesn't leave a lot of time for deeper analysis, so when a record appears which defies easy comparison I often find myself at a bit of a loss.
Rather than relegate "Around the Folly & Down Hill" to the too-hard-bin though, I've found myself being drawn back to it with gathering frequency, and assume that it will have the same lure for many of you.
Onto the tough part then. Firstly, I feel the need to point out that "Around the Folly & Down Hill" is not a record without precedent. It ticks all of the boxes that a 'hauntology' release should, but broadens the boundaries of the genre as it does so. "Old Pepperbox" is a great example; it's soaked in portentous seventies BBC TV drama atmosphere as one would expect, and that would be enough for most. Seatman however, has a more expansive vision for his soundscapes, utilising great washes of kosmische synths, and a stately harpsichord passage to expand "Old Pepperbox" into unexplored terrain. Elsewhere, Seatman's versatile percussive skills add drive, and dramatic flair, with the drums and keyboard interactions on "Susan's Always Strange" being reminiscent of Mason and Wright in their Pompeii prime - hardly what you'd expect from your standard hauntological excursion.
Ghost Box anoraks will find plenty to win their favour here for sure, but there's also an explorative sense of psychedelia and well crafted kosmische which makes the occasionally lengthy tracks thrillingly unpredictable.
Nathan Ford (The Active Listener)

On a day out at Pepperbox Hill in Wiltshire I watched my daughter and her friends playing and running about by the old folly. As I watched I wondered about all the things that this grand old building might have seen over the years; childrens' games, picnics, bonfires, fireworks, fights, fantastic freak outs, witches, warlocks, highwaymen, ladies watching for the hunt and the homeguard watching for an invasion. With these thoughts it was now time to record again.

credits

released May 19, 2014

written recorded and produced by keith seatman
all instruments keith seatman
additional production jim jupp
mastering by jack packer

Around the Folly and Down Hill is available as a
CD and Digital download from Bandcamp.
Released by: K.S.Audio
Catalogue number: ksa 003

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about

Keith Seatman Hampshire, UK

Musical Oddness & Wistful Tootling and always slightly lost. Keith Seatman is a musician, owner of some synths, records and all manner of old tat. Former member of the band Psylons,
Has recorded sessions for The Garden of Earthly Delights and has been played on BBC 6 music's The Freak Zone and Gideon Coe show BBC Radio 3 Late Junction The Phantom Circuit and NTS Radio Alien Jams.
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