TODAY WE LOVE

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Middle of the Trail

2101¬Rootsy folkster Ray Lamontagne continues his career as a Radio 2 botherer with his new album. Critics see it as competent but hardly revolutionary, scores coming it at around 6 or 7.¬False¬

Towering achievement?

2098¬There's a very rare 10/10 from The Skinny for the rapper, pianist and producer's album, released to accompany a feature film also written and produced by the maverick Canadian. Such enthusiasm is not shared by the BBC or music OMH, who regard it as interesting but only partially successful.¬True¬

Well-liked

2103¬Mostly pretty favourable reviews so far for the LA all-girl quartet's 2nd album. In the 5 years since their debut, they've moved from alt.rock to garage pop - with the help of one Mark Ronson on production duties.¬True¬
Empire And Love

The Imagined Village

Empire And Love

Second installment of Simon Emmerson's folk/world project bringing together an array of folk luminaries with a stellar world music cast

Critics average rating

7.6

Label
ECC
Release date
26/01/2010
  1. 10.0 |  The Independent

    The result is a quantum leap beyond the first Imagined Village album, refurbishing the mostly traditional folk material in a variety of potent new arrangements
    Read Review

  2. 8.0 |  The Guardian

    There are occasional passages where the electronica could be cut back, but this is an impressive set
    Read Review

  3. 8.0 |  The Observer

    Atmospheric settings veer between trembling fiddles and thumping dhol drums, but it's the songs that stick... Lovely
    Read Review

  4. 8.0 |  Uncut

    Print edition only

  5. 8.0 |  The Scotsman

    The overall impression is not one of gimmicky pick'n'mixing, but of a consolidated and inspired entity
    Read Review

  6. 8.0 |  The Times

    ...a joyous celebration of English and global culture
    Read Review

  7. 8.0 |  Evening Standard

    Imagined Village's success lies in taking traditional material and making it sound relevant and contemporary - which is what folk music should be
    Read Review

  8. 8.0 |  Click Music

    But in a time where reality stars still saturate the market with homogenised music, a trip to a village like this is a welcome change of pace
    Read Review

  9. 6.0 |  Mojo

    Print edition only

  10. 6.0 |  Observer Music Monthly

    Print edition only

  11. 6.0 |  The Sunday Times

    The occasionally unyielding beats are an undeniable distraction, but the antiwar sentiments of My Son John more than survive the transition to modern-day Afghanistan and Iraq
    Read Review

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Track preview & download

The Imagined Village: Empire And Love

  • Download full album for just £7.99
  • 1. My Son John £0.99
  • 2. Sweet Jane £0.99
  • 3. Space Girl £0.99
  • 4. Byker Hill £0.99
  • 5. Scarborough Fair £0.99
  • 6. Mermaid £0.99
  • 7. The Hand Weaver And The Factory Maid £0.99
  • 8. The Lark In The Morning £0.99
  • 9. Rose Buds In June / Mrs Preston's Hornpipe £0.99
  • 10. Cum On Feel The Noize £0.99
  • 11. Scarborough Fair (String Reprise) £0.99
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Pain and pleasure

2105¬Can the third of the three Mancunian electro-ish bands which featured in the BBC's Sound of 2010 list emulate the success of their counterparts, Delphic and Everything Everything? The jury's still out so far. NME is a big fan of the duo's 80s-inspired synthpop anthems, but The Guardian is far from convinced, and others find the album stylish but unremarkable. ¬True¬

Dream team?

2070¬You would imagine that one revered master of popular music working with the material of another revered master of popular music would result in something quite special. However that doesn't appear to be the case, according to many critics. Some find the album partially successful, others are seriously underwhelmed, such as The Guardian, which describes it as "horrible". ¬True¬

Mixed reactions

2106¬Very mixed views around on the fourth album from New York's prime purveyors of post-punk gloom, now back at their old label, Matador. Most critics accept they've moved on from the danceable rhythms and singalong hooks that leavened their earlier work. The reaction to what remains is very varied: some, such as Uncut, regard it is refined and elegant; others such as Spin regard the new material as dull rather than hypnotic. ¬True¬

floor fillers

2096¬The latest torch-bearers of nu-disco would appear to be the Brooklyn/Vancouver collective led by Dandilion Wind Opaine and Szam Findlay. Fan Death's debut album is receiving some serious praise from critics who appreciate their particular melding of Italo house, synthpop, electro and early 80s gay disco.¬True¬