The Golden Boat Crying Lion

• 1A Boys Dream02:51
• 2John Balls Blues02:37
• 3Lamp Of The Invisible Light03:46
• 4Christ Made A Trance01:58
• 5The Golden Boat03:28
• 6The Kingdom Within05:17
• 7The Wakefield Anthem03:23
• 8Andalusian Moon03:10
• 9Tincture Of Tears02:16
• Total Runtime28:46

Info for The Golden Boat

Refreshing, rootedly odd, mostly unaccompanied four-part-harmony singing recorded in Govan Old Parish Church, Glasgow, by members of Trembling Bells and Muldoon’s Picnic. Elements of Sacred Harp, Gregorian chant, medieval madrigal and English folk, with poetic influences including Maya Deren, Saint John The Divine and Dennis Potter — a unique blend of the visionary and the earthly, the intimate and glorious.

Glasgow harmony singing group Crying Lion (Trembling Bells and Muldoon’s Picnic) land on Honest Jon’s Records with a debut of psychedelic folk rooted experimentation.

Showing off an array of different vocal techniques, this is one for fans of Folklore Tapes recent titles. The quartet’s polyharmonic melodies combine American Sacred Harp, Gregorian chant, Medieval Madrigal and English Folk traditions. Most intimate when performed a capella as on ‘John Ball’s Blues’ or ‘The Golden Boat’, their lyrical influences range from eccentric English engraver Eric Gill, to experimental film maker Maya Deren and the writings of Saint John the Divine.

“From choral to folk chants, blend of male and female tones, melodies the length of a human breath, rhythms of a heartbeat and tear jerkingly good harmonies. There is something really earthing about listening to The Crying Lion that is not remotely ‘hippy’ or ‘far-out’, it is grounding, simple, at peace with itself and connecting; a human voice being the most intimate of instruments. The Crying Lion are a pleasure to experience and listen to.” (Alex Gallacher, folk radio.co.uk)

Alex Neilson, vocals
Lavinia Blackwall, vocals
Harry Campbell, vocals
Katy Cooper, vocals

The Crying Lion
are an unaccompanied 4 part harmony singing group from Glasgow featuring members of Trembling Bells and Muldoon’s Picnic. The group combine elements of such vocal traditions as American Sacred Harp, Gregorian chant, Medieval Madrigal and English Folk all refracted through Alex Neilson’s song writing to forge a sound that is intimate and glorious. With lyrical influences that range from eccentric English engraver Eric Gill, to experimental film maker Maya Deren, the writings of Saint John the Divine and the seething sexual menace of Dennis Potter, The Crying Lion are a unique blend of the visionary and the earthly. Singing polyphonic harmonies with an immediacy that by-passes any need for amplification or instrumental trickery, the group have captivated audiences on a recent UK tour supporting Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and appeared in session on Marc Riley’s 6 Music show.

“From choral to folk chants, blend of male and female tones, melodies the length of a human breath, rhythms of a heartbeat and tear jerkingly good harmonies. There is something really earthing about listening to The Crying Lion that is not remotely ‘hippy’ or ‘far-out’, it is grounding, simple, at peace with itself and connecting; a human voice being the most intimate of instruments. The Crying Lion are a pleasure to experience and listen to.”

This album contains no booklet.