A Sleeping Place
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
A folk friendly outfit spearheaded by the couple Alexia Antoniou and Mike O’Malley, Sam Weber, Michael Sachs and Derek Swink are also part of the equation, and as Gawain And The Green Knight they bring us a quick listen of ‘literary folk’, where allegory and mythology make for a very unique experience.
“A Dressmaker” starts the listen with a very playful delivery of vivid storytelling from Antoniou as swift acoustic guitar and warm clarinet from Sachs make for memorable folk-pop opener, and “Dionysus” follows with a calmer spirit of expressive singing alongside bare but impactful percussion, keys and plucked guitar.
Occupying the middle is “Bridget”, where a lullaby appeal enters thanks to O’Malley’s twinkling keys amid poetic singing, while “In My Dreams, A Perfect Chair” recruits a fuller climate of thumping drums from Swink, and Weber’s bass work won’t go unnoticed, either.
“Birds & Wine” and “Fingers” exit the listen, where the former radiates frisky clarinet and backing vocals from O’Malley, and the latter finishes dreamy and gentle, and unfolds with a thoughtful, articulate display of timeless song craft.
Antoniou and O’Malley were slated to get married in 2020, but Covid derailed that, and left the pair isolated, insecure and even fearful, which led to these very creative songs. Ultimately a love letter packed with emotion and aimed at anyone alive and who has been scared to die, there’s plenty of artists playing with folk ideas, but few are doing it quite like this, which is a big part of Gawain And The Green Knight’s allure.
Travels well with: Trapper Schoepp- May Day; Sweetlove- Goodnight, Lover