A Best of 2016 Part 1 on The Moon

Politically, it has been a strange year so far and it may well get seriously loopy thanks to the Good Old US of A. In Blighty, the swivel-eyed lunatic wing of the Tory party, UKRIP and a few Labour Quislings did manage to win the EU plebiscite, but the lunatics were not able to take over the asylum, as the grown-up wing of the Tory party managed to stage a coup. The result is that we probably have a slightly less incompetent government and our relationship with the EU might not end up being much different.

It might depend on David Davis learning to face reality and compromising, or resigning in a huff. Good old Boris might well be the first to go due to some scandal, but then he might well do William Hague and grow up on the job. The only swivel-eyed little englander to actually get a job was Liam Fox, but I rather suspect he may have just been given enough rope to hang himself (again).

My political highlight of the year so far has come from a very unlikely source in the form of Paul Dacre, editor of the Daily Muck, with his decision to back Teresa May after the unbelievable behaviour of Michael Gnome and his equally charming Daily Muck employed spouse.

As for the music, this year has maybe not been quite as good as 2015 for great albums. I have also found that many follow up albums did not match their predecessors, and some debuts have not lived up to the promise of initial EPs and singles.

However, I have managed to come across more great new music than ever before. As with previous Moon best of's, it is not just stuff released in 2016, as it kicks off with a few tunes released in 2015 that I belatedly came across. As ever, thanks must go to the usual suspects: the AV Club, A Finest Kiss, God Is In The TV and The VPME music blogs, BBC 6 Music, The NME and Uncut Magazine.

Below is a playlist of all 65 tracks via Spotify. To convert it to other streaming providers you can use the excellent Soundiiz. This year it started life in Groove Music rather that in Deezer and when part 2 is ready at some point in December, it will be added to the playlist below, as long as Mr Trump has not already destroyed humanity.

It is as diverse as ever, but with a bit of an emphasis on foul-mouthed young ladies with guitars. But there is also s bit of Top Pop, some Cinematic Soul, Big Sur Gothic, a bit of folksiness and, as ever, a psychedelic interlude. It also ends very strongly with an epic Pink Floyd meets Isaac Hayes modern soul with soul from Micheal Kiwanuka, followed by a great slice of Spook Folk.

Below the playlist is a bit of guff on each artist and links to relevant Moon posts and at the very end a guide to lots more great Spook Folk.

Update: The full 107 track A best of 2016 in now on The Moon

1. Martha - Six Men Getting Sick Six Times (Mendable)

This is one of a handful of tracks Martha released in 2015. Their excellent debut featured on The Moon and there is another excellent albums worth available in the usual places or as pay what you like downloads on Bandcamp. This track is a bit different from their more normal indie rock, it is possibly a glimpse into a more folky future, but has in common a great tune and great lyrics. Their second album has just been released, it features just one of the tracks released last year and is just as great as the debut.

2. All Dogs - That Kind of Girl

From a fine album from late in 2015, this brilliant track is the most punk on it, the rest of the album is more grungy Lemonheady slacker like but very good indeed. Maryn Jones, the lead singer, had previously released a solo album and has also been/is a member of:

3. Saintseneca - Necker Cube

This is from their third album of folk rock released in 2015. They are led by Zac Little, with additional vocals from Maryn Jones since the second LP. It is very different from All Dogs, but is a fine LP. This track is the most instantly gettable and the only one with a big Polyphonic Spree-like chorus. Other tracks have less traditional structure, and so it took me a while to get my head round it all, but it is worth persevering with.

4. Mammouth Penguins - We Won't Go There

From another fine album of US indie rock that I only got into late in 2015. This is one of quite a few highlights.

5. Flyying Colours - Not Today

Wavy Gravy from their debut EP was a highlight of A Best if 14. I would have thought an album would have followed in 2015, but instead there was another 5 track EP, which passed me by until it was highlighted in the EPs of the year post from A Finest Kiss.  None of the new tracks quite matched Wavy Gravy, but it is a better EP overall, with the addition of some great backing vocals and the two EPs do add up to a great ten track LP.

6. Willowspeak - All Yours

Another fine album from late 2015 of indie americana. This opening track is the highlight, but the rest of the album carries on in much the same vein and often comes close to matching it.

7. Trapper Schoepp - Ballad of Olof Johnson

Finally into 2016 and this great americana/country track is about Mr Schoepp's Swedish immigrant ancestor surviving a winter in a hole in South Dakota sheltered by his overturned wagon. The AV Club alerted me to it as the first single from his second LP, which led me to his debut, Run, Engine, Run, from 2014 which would have been one of my faves of that year if I had known about it. It is just the kind of coherent americana many would want Ryan Adams to make. The new album Valentines & Rangers is not as good, more varied but not as serious. Like Mr Adams he is not as great when he tries to do more straight up Rock, though, again like Mr Adams, the song can shine through on tracks like Don't Go, which on first listen sounded pretty naff, but then I found myself singing along on my second listen. He also released an EP called Olaf, Ogallala and other Oddities and the best of both do make a fine playlist.

8. La Sera - I Need an Angel

The latest La Sera LP is the best thing to come out of Ryan Adams Taylor Swift cover album, as his co-conspirator was Todd Wisenbaker who had produced the last La Sera record which was another great LP from 2014. La Sera had started life as the solo project of Katy Goodman, the bassist from the Vivian Girls, but for this LP she and Mr Wisenbaker had become a duo with Mr Adams as a producer.  The last LP has a classic American indie sound, but this new one is far more Americana but with great live sounding production and with some added bits of strangeness from Mr Adams.

9. Cage the Elephant  - Cold Cold Cold

Back to 2015 with an album that came out in December, from a band a few in the UK may recall having a hit some time back in the wake of the White Stripes bursting onto the scene.  This album is, by all accounts a step up for them and it certainly is a stronger set of songs than anything I have checked out from Mr White recently. It is also pretty varied with some obvious Anglophile influences, such as this track which would not be out of place on a record by the:

10. The Coral - White Bird

From a great new LP on which they expand their sound to take in some heavier American influence and kraut rock - as on this track, which would not be out of place on:

11. Serpent Power - Life is a Ball

Back to 2015 again as I only found out about this through a review in Uncut about The Coral album. The Serpent Power are two members of the current Coral line-up, and it plainly had an influence the sound of The Coral LP. However, this track would have made fantastic Coral single back in the day.

Check out a best of The Coral's new LP and the Serpent Power on The Moon

12. Fat White Family - Love is the Crack

The third entry onto a Moon best of from this band, but they are yet to get a Moon post. Like the debut the album, it is partly brilliant, but there is a bit of filla and it is also a pretty murky listen overall. They can't help but write some great tunes with some choice lyrics such as this one. They did not include their 2015 singles either, so if you start with them and then add the best of the album you do get a great albums worth.

Well, that enough indie/folky/americana/scouse psychedelic rock, time for some TOP POP! from......

13. Primal Scream - Where Light Get In

Featuring a great vocal contribution from Sky Ferreira. In an ideal world it would be still riding high in the charts and filling dance floors across the globe, but sadly we are in far from an ideal world. The album is typical Scream, being half great but half not, unlike their last LP which was almost a full album of greatness, but could have done with a track like this one. They are at least adding to a best of collection to match any band.

14. Bent Cousin - Where do I Belong

The band that kicked off A Best of 2015 Part 1, with the wonderful Bentpaperboy from their excellent debut EP. Releases since have not quite lived up to its promise, including the debut LP. But if you add it all together you can make a brilliant playlist that is also very varied, from electronic versions of Dinosaur Jr tracks and other pop moments like this with a guest rapper to indie rock n' roll and gorgeous acoustic folk numbers.

15. Daughter  - No Care

I had not come across Daughter before, but their second album was plugged pretty heavily, and it is very good, quite Delgado like in places but also rather like Coldplay and their early best. This track has a bit of an edge and is also pretty poptastic, which makes it an exception on the album -  they could do with a few more like it.

16. Wildhood  - Double Dark

This is the most unexpected pleasure of the year. Wildhood is Jordan Stephens, one half if Hip Hop duo Rizzle Kicks, but this is a bit different from the cheeky chappy but clever and very successful pop of the Kicks. This track was a track of the day on God is on the TV, but they and I would recommend checking out the whole 7 track EP, which is just as dark and brooding and impressive.

Enough Top Pop, time to get a bit psychedelic...

17. Black Mountain - Constellations

Sunflower Bean released the finest double A side single of 2015, featuring two brilliant slices of psychedelic punk rock, I was hoping that they would release a whole album in a similar vein in 2016, but it was Black Mountain who did, with the exception of the very 70s Pink Floyd last track, and they have been over three previous albums and a soundtrack. It is one of the best albums of the year to not get a Moon review, but the consistency of tunes is not quite what I would have hoped from my imaginary psychedelic punk rock Sunflower Bean LP.

18. Sunflower Bean -  I Want You to Give Me Enough Time

A mentioned above, the album was not quite what I expected, it turned out to be more like the indie jangle of most of their debut five track EP. There is only one previously released track on it, so you can make a very impressive playlist from all their tracks. Their three finest slices of psychedelic punk rock are not on the album, but then it does have their best bits of indie jangle such as this lovely track.

19. Edward Penfold - Up Down

From a very fine nine track album brought to my attention by GIITTV. Mr Penfold is/was part of a psychedelic garage trio called Taos Humm, and this LP brings to mind a Syd Barrett, Ray Davies inspired collaboration between Graham Coxen and Julian Cope. Nuff said.

20. Quilt - O'Conner's Barn

A second entry to a Moon Best of from this psychedelic indie-rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. From another fine album that does manage to at least match their last one. This track does also have a wonderful 60's west coast sound and highlights the great voice of co- vocalist Ms Anna Fox Rochinski.

21. Coves - I'm not Here

Another second entry on a Moon Best of, but from an album that does not quite match their debut which was featured on The Moon. Although this track, and a couple of other tracks in the second half of the LP, do get a bit psychedelic and more ambitious. The singer has had singing lessons and her delivery is more confident, and the vocals sound more real, but then some of vocal jiggery-pokery on the debut did yield excellent results.

22. Emma Pollack - Intermission

The third solo album from the former Delgados co-lead singer, one of Scotland's finest bands. It is not as great as her last one but better than her first, and this track is amazing.

23. Steven James Adams - Kings of the Back of the Bus

This is a cracking highlight from a very fine album. It is the former Broken Family Band lead singer, from Cambridgeshire, EU, at his most direct and cynical. Other highlights are more reflective and folky, such as the lovely Ideas, and while Togetherness, the opening track, does initially sound a little Coldplay-lite, it is actually a great political lyric and one of the songs for 2016.

24. Lily and Madeline - Nothing

A third track on a Moon best of from these two sisters from Indianapolis, USA. They were on Sufjan Stevens label, but they have now moved onto a major. Despite that, their sound has developed well, with some subtle production changes that have actually made their sound more interesting, but the great songs and voices remain, along with a bit of extra maturity as highlighted in the twist at the end of this closing album track.

25. Misty Miller - Next to You

Another third entry on a Moon best of from Ms Miller, who finally, after much wrangling with her record label, managed to release an album. As per, many of the best tracks had already been released, some had been available on Spotify etc, but then were taken off. This track and Girlfriend were re-recorded and re-released, but both had come out originally in 2013. I don't like the new version of Girlfriend as much as the original, and it is a shame that you can't still stream it, but the new version of this track is quite an improvement. It is a great song, and her voice is a great mix of Kim Wilde and PJ Harvey. She has since got out of her contract and may be coming back with a new band, and I am sure whatever she comes back with will be interesting.

26. The Magnetic North - Little Jerusalem

A very lovely and one of many highlights from one of the albums and projects of the year. Check it out The Moon

27. Steve Mason -  Words in My Head

Another entry in a Moon Best of from the former Beta Band lead singer. The album is consistently good, it is just not as diverse as his last album and does not have the interesting but short interludes interlinking the songs.

28. Meilyr Jones - How to Recognise a Work of Art

A cracking opening track from a great LP featured on The Moon

29. The Shadow Puppets - The Dream Synopsis

From another album that did not live up to it's predecessor, but then their first album is one of my faves of the last decade. Mr Turner does also bring out the best in Mr Kane as some of his contributions are very fine indeed. This track is one of Mr Tuners's finer moments and does wonderfully hark back to his earlier life as a dreaming youngster in Sheffield Sex City in Gods Very Own County.

30. PJ Harvey - The Wheel

Ms Harvey provided the highlight of my armchair Glastonbury experience, in an ideal world she would be the headliner, but sadly we are living in a world that is far from ideal. However, it is great that she has had a number one album three decades into an amazing career and that she has done it by getting brilliantly political and bold. In the past, when she has pushed the boat out a bit she has tended to retreat into her comfort zone for her next LP, but this time, she just pushed out the boat more from Let England Shake with brilliant results.  In a year of such incomprehensible political failure, this song is all about what should have been the top priority of our "representatives"  and "media", instead all we have had a paltry intention to possibly help less than 10% of the estimated 28,0000 on which they are now failing to deliver.

31. Andrew Bird - Left Handed Kisses

One of the songs of the year from a very fine album, especially the deluxe version. It can be a little M.O.R and could do with some more unconventional tracks like this one, which also makes use of his skills with a violin and has a fantastic vocal contribution from Fiona Apple.

32. White Wine - Sitting on a Beach

Another great track from a great album featured on The Moon

33. Kevin Morby - Black Flowers

One of a few highlights from a fine album by the former Woods bassist. He has successfully created a sound that is an updated combination of Dylan and Cohen.

34. Tacocat - Horse Girls

This is a band whose last album was one I checked out and did not quite get into, and they did not quite manage to get on  A Best of 14. Bridge to Hawaii was a great single, but I did not find the rest of the album up to it, but this latest album is a step up, with this track being just one of many highlights. It is a very simples song, but it is also pretty clever, with the same lines repeated but in two very different styles.

35. Horse Party - Receiver

A second entry into a Moon best of from their second LP and is one of many highlights from an LP that is more consistent than their debut, though no track quite matches the brilliance of Back to Mono as featured on A Best of 14.

36. She Drew the Gun - Poem

One of the songs of the year and the song for 2016. It is a standout and quite unique on the album, but it is a fine album that was rather unexpectedly polished and laid back. In parts it does get a bit Lana Del Rey like in sound and subject matter, and also rather like the more laid back and cinematic tracks from:

37. Vienna Ditto - Frank Account

This is not one of their more laid back or cinematic tracks but more their Voodo Si-fi Blues side that is also delightfully political. It was released early on Soundcloud in response to the Panama Papers leak, and it is part of a great 6 track EP that follows up their debut that was featured on The Moon in a playlist with the many great tracks they had released before the LP.

38. Bleached  - Sour Candy

The is a fantastic slice of poptastic rock n' roll that ought to be a standard down at your local karaoke. It is from a great second LP as featured on The Moon

The first LP and associated releases available on Spotify etc also make a great playlist.

39. The Duke Spirit - Wounded Wing

This is a band based in London, EU, that I had heard of, but never really heard. Their name and album covers had led me to believe they were some kind of folk act, but they turned out to be a classic female-fronted rock n' roll band. This is their fourth LP, and it is one of the best not to get a Moon review. A couple of reviews I did read said it was ok, but not as good as their earlier records, so I ought to check them out, as it is quite hard to pick one highlight from it. I went with this track as it does feature the dulcet tones of Mr Mark Lanagan, and because the playlist could do with a change of pace. It is also a beautiful track that could be a highlight of an Emma Pollack or Delgados record. The rest of the LP is far more rock n' roll, but just as well produced.

40. Black Honey - All My Pride

A second entry in a Moon best of from a band from Brighton, EU, that are yet to release an LP, it is from their second LP and they have now released enough singles and EPs to form a very impressive LP long playlist. This track showcases their more straight up rock n' roll mode, but other tracks, like Headspin, hark back to the pre-rock n' roll era in a Lana Del Rey like way. Sadly their first EP has now been taken off Spotify etc, but it can be found on Ubend, and another track Mothership is on Soundcloud. No doubt these tracks might well all re-appear on the debut LP, and the excellent Sleep Forever will be re- released as a single...

41.  Evans the Death -  Cable Street Blues

A London, EU group that featured the excellent Enabler on A Best of 2015 have now come back pretty quickly with a new and very ambitious album, and this track is one of many highlights, with a great contribution from an unknown, but familiar sounding guest vocalist. The album as a whole is maybe a bit much in one go and could do with a couple of Enabler like tracks to lighten it up a bit, but it is great to see them pushing the boat out so much.

42. Beverly - You Said It

Like a top notch, Tanya Donelly fronted Breeders track from an excellent album featured on The Moon

43. Big Thief - Real Love

This is one of the songs of the year, as is the title track from an americana tinged rock n' roll LP from Brooklyn, USA that is the one of the best to not have a Moon post so far this year. The lead singer, Adrianne Lenker, previously released a solo record, but her great, honest, Jenny Lewis/Jeff Tweedy like songs and lyrics work brilliantly with a band, especially on this track with its amazing guitar - it would be a highlight of a Wilco album.

44. She Makes War - Cold Shoulder

More great foul-mouthed Lady rock n' roll from Wales, EU. From a very fine album that is also pretty diverse it quite folky in parts.

45. Yak - Out on a Limb

A track not featured on the album from this year, but from the three track EP released late in 2015 on Jack Whites record label. It is on Spotify but not on Groove (apart from a not very good live version) , and you can download it individually from iTunes but on Google Play can only download the whole EP. It is all a bit odd but it is a fantastic track, almost as good as the brilliant Smile from A Best of 2015 and you can make a great playlist from all their releases so far -  as featured on The Moon

46. Kate Jackson - Metropolis

From an album recommended by the VPME, GIITTV and A Finest Kiss. And it is a fine LP that was started with Bernard Butler many moons ago but then only recently finished after she had spent some time as an artist in Rome, but music and Blighty and the romance of it's motorways drew her back eventually. She was the lead singer with the Long Blondes, a band like The Duke Spirit, I had heard of but don't recall hearing, this may be because they both broke through just before I got into streaming, and so some further investigation will be required.

47. Unloved  - I Could Tell You But I'd Have to Kill You

Time for a cinematic soul interlude kicking off with this brilliant track from a EU/US collaboration between David Holmes and Vincent & Mr. Green Check out a great playlist on The Moon


48. Cat's Eyes - Drag

A great slice of poptastic cinematic soul from this very interesting EU/Canadian collaboration between Kent, EU born Faris Badwan from The Horrors and Italian-Canadian soprano, composer and multi-instrumentalist Rachel Zeffira. It is from a fine second album and they have also produced the soundtrack to The Duke of Burgundy.


49. Jarvis Cocker - Theme from Likely Stories

Mr Cocker has managed to find some time, between his radio and Sainsbury's adverts, to produce some new music. It is just a EP as a soundtrack to a Sky Arts TV project but, it is excellent and has added two tracks to A Yorkshire Treasure - A Best of Pulp and Jarvis Cocker on The Moon

50. Big Deal - Saccharine

Like Evans the Death, this is another London, EU indie rock outfit with their second entry on a Moon best of, and who also come out with a more ambitious follow-up. They have also gone from being a duo to a full band. The new album is a step up and does have this poptastic highlight that the Evans the Death LP could do with.


51.  Marissa Nadler - Hungry is the Ghost

Some excellent Big Sur Gothic from this artist previously featured on The Moon 

Her new LP does not quite match her last in terms of song quality, but her sound has continued to develop. Comparisons with Lana Del Rey continue, she may well be a influence on Miss Grant, but then this track could also be highlight of her Ultraviolence album.


52. Nice As Fuck - Guns

This is the most unexpected pleasure of the year so far. It is the latest project from the brilliant Jenny Lewis which is a guitar-less all female threesome. It is not quite as brilliant as any of her post-Rilo Kiley albums but is great fun and very different. This track is the most serious and, in the Good old USA at least, very political.


53. Malcolm Middleton - Big Black Hole

I preferred the first few solo albums from Mr Middleton to his work as one-half of Scotland's Arab Strap and to the early releases of his partner in crime Aidan Moffat. His work was more song-based and with a more obvious folk influence. This has gone into reverse recently, with Mr Moffat getting all song-based and brilliantly folky, while Mr Middleton went all rather Arab Strap like with Human Don't Be Angry and now his latest solo LP is song-based but mostly electronic in sound. It is a fine record, as his previous records have been a mix of folky and electronic tracks and this track would not be out of place on any of his previous records. He is also as wonderfully droll but also as uplifting as always.


54. Aidan Moffat - Abduction Lullaby

As mentioned above, Mr Moffat has got wonderfully folky in recent years, and he has followed up his excellent album with Bill Wells from last year with this brilliant re-writing of traditional Scottish folk songs, along with an accompanying film. Both were featured on The Moon

The album is mostly hilarious and full of some exceedingly fruity language, but it also has some more serious and political moments, including this wonderful track. It might well be The Moon album of the year.


55. Mitski - Happy

The great opening track with some fine freaky sax from a great follow-up to her breakthrough LP. Both have featured on The Moon

56. The Psychic Ills - I Don't Mind

This song will no doubt be the most too cool for school of the year, it features the amazing voice of Hope Sandoval and could be a highlight of the classic Mazzy Star debut. The rest of the album is also very too cool for school and a few of the other songs are almost as great. There are also some interesting instrumentals in the second half, which do go on a bit but then do add some diversity of sound. They are a duo from New York, USA, and it is their 5th LP.

57. Adia Victoria - Mortimer's Blues

This is a great track of modern southern blues from a very promising debut album. And she hails from Nashville, USA but the Nashville sound it ain't.


58. Rick Redbeard - Get Blood (friendly)

A highlight and a duet with his sister, from Mr Redbeard's second solo LP. Both have featured on The Moon along with some musings on the great streaming debate.


59. Emily Jane White -  The Black Dove

More Big Sur Gothic from this Oakland, USA born one time EU resident, who found success in France, but is now based in San Francisco, USA. This track was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and is one of the more expansive on a fine LP that is very much in the same vein as Marissa Nadler (see above). Ms Nadler was a guest vocalist on her last LP and also like Ms Nadler she has an extensive back catalogue  - this is her 5th LP.


60. Xylaroo - On My Way

More fruity mouthed ladies, but this time from two sisters from London via elsewhere in Europe and Asia. Jenny Lewis/Rilo Kiley have been cited as a big influence which is apparent in this bright folk-pop song with great honest and edgy lyrics about just being what you want to be.


61. Emma Russack - You Gave Me

From a fine album and an artist who has been compared to fellow Aussie Courtney Barnett. She does have a similar delivery and lyrical style, but the album is like a whole LP of Ms Barnett at her most laid back and reflective. This track is one of the most expansive, but the whole LP is consistently good.


62. Oh Pep!  - Doctor Doctor

More from Ozzie Land but from a female folk pop duo, like Xylaroo, but with less fruity language. This track is on of many highlights on a promising debut LP. There is also 3 EPs you can find on Bandcamp.


63. Mutual Benefit - Lost Dreamers.

This is an artist I had checked out before, but their last LP did not quite do it for me. Like the last Tacocat album, it had one great track, but nothing else came close to matching it, but, again like Tacocat, this new LP is a step up, especially this gorgeous track which reminds me of Big Star at their most laid back and sublime.

Mutual Benefit is Jordan Lee who hails from Austin Texas but is now based in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He has also released a number of EPs which you can find on Bandcamp, with the exception of The Cowboy's Prayer which is only on the usual streaming services.


64. Michael Kiwanuka - Cold Cold Heart

This is the epic Pink Floyd meets Isaac Hayes opening track from a brilliant new album from London, EU. I did check out his first, which was ok retro soul but a little M.O.R and this new album is very modern soul with lots of soul produced by Danger Mouse. A live version of this track did go on Moonstream to advertise this post, but the LP would have had it's own Moon post if it had not clashed with pulling this one together and so it might end up being the Du Blonde of 2016.


65. Matt Berninger and Andrew Bird - Lyke Wake Dirge

And finally some top notch Spook Folk. This version of this ancient folk song appeared on a US TV show in 2014, but a similar version has also been used as the theme song for the 2016 BBC series The Living and the Dead. This track and some other Spook Folk songs, by the like of Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins are the best thing about it, but for some reason it is quite hard to find out about all the tracks used. This was not the case with the excellent Our World War which also had a brilliant soundtrack which was listed for each episode on the series webpage. But, after a bit of a Google, it transpires that the songs were recorded by The Insects from Bristol, EU, exclusively for the series and you can download the soundtrack for £7.99 from their website

The singer of Lyke Wake Dirge is one Mark Leggasick, a  fellow Bristolian, who releases Honky Tonk country as Howlin’ Lord and is part of Screamin' Miss Jackson and the Slap Ya Mama Big Band

His vocal on Lyke Wake Dirge is very different from Howlin’ Lord, it is very like Matt Berninger only better, and track is more restrained but also spookier.

There are also two versions on the debut LP by the ultimate spook folkers The Hare and The Moon. If this it tickles your fancy then you can stream or download lots more great Spook Folk from their Bandcamp page, and you can find yet more great Spook Folk on The Moon with A Best of Dark Britannia Parts 1 and 2.