The Star's critic MARIA DUARTE recommends an impressive impersonation of Bob Dylan
Album reviews with IAN SINCLAIR: April 8, 2024
New releases from Toby Hay & Aidan Thorne, Julia Holter and Pernice Brothers
The Star's critic MARIA DUARTE reviews Here, Vermiglio, William Tell and Wolf Man
New releases from Thorpe and Morrison, Daria Kulesh, and Will Finn and Rosie Calvert
RINA ARYA confronts the brutal operation of Francis Bacon’s approach to portraiture
Emphasising his continuous engagement in labour movement struggles, ALISTAIR FINDLAY salutes John Foster’s contribution as activist, strategist, intellectual and defender of the Morning Star
ANDY MIAH advocates the use of AI to assist people by expanding access to global literature and culture
EWAN KOTZ relishes a veteran Glasgow band that have lost none of their verve for live performance
Toby Hay & Aidan Thorne
after a pause
(Cambrian Records)
★★★★
WITH spring edging in with the promise of warmer and brighter days, Toby Hay’s & Aidan Thorne’s first album as a duo seems particularly timely.
The instrumental set of contemporary folk was recorded over three days in between lockdowns in summer 2021. I’ve long been a huge fan of Radnorshire-based acoustic guitar virtuoso Hay, and it’s a real pleasure to hear him work so well with bassist Thorne, who has recently moved to mid-Wales himself.
On the pastoral sounds of Bard and She Who Causes Auspicious Things, Thorne’s performance brings to mind the hazy summer vibes of Dave Pegg’s celebrated bass playing on Nick Drake’s Bryter Layter album, while the wonderful Careful and Burden craft a more moody atmosphere.
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