Empire And Love by The Imagined Village reviews

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11 July 2025

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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

ADM rating[?]: 7.5
Label: ECC
UK Release date: 26/01/2010

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10.0 7712
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
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8.0 7713
8.0 | The Guardian

There are occasional passages where the electronica could be cut back, but this is an impressive set
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8.0 7781
8.0 | The Observer

Atmospheric settings veer between trembling fiddles and thumping dhol drums, but it's the songs that stick... Lovely
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8.0 7886
8.0 | Uncut

Print edition only
8.0 8018
8.0 | The Scotsman

The overall impression is not one of gimmicky pick'n'mixing, but of a consolidated and inspired entity
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8.0 8039
8.0 | The Times

...a joyous celebration of English and global culture
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8.0 8207
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
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8.0 8536
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
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6.0 8293
6.0 | Observer Music Monthly

Print edition only
6.0 8301
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
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6.0 8090
6.0 | Mojo

Print edition only
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Preview & download it

The Imagined Village: Empire And Love

Download full album for just £5.00

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5. Scarborough Fair £0.99

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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 £0.99

Any decent music? We review the reviews. You get the final word

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The Imagined Village

Empire And Love

10.0 | The Independent

8.0 | The Guardian

8.0 | The Observer

8.0 | Uncut

8.0 | The Scotsman

8.0 | The Times

8.0 | Evening Standard

8.0 | Click Music

6.0 | Observer Music Monthly

6.0 | The Sunday Times

6.0 | Mojo

Watch it

Preview & download it

Latest Reviews

All-time top 10

Any decent music? We review the reviews. You get the final word

Hello

Just in

Unlisted recent releases

Follow us on

Source list

Specialist Genres

IF YOU WANT TOKEEP IN TOUCHWITH ADM THENSIGN UP HERE

New

New

New

Highest Recent Ratings

Albums to watch

The Imagined Village

Empire And Love

10.0 | The Independent

8.0 | The Guardian

8.0 | The Observer

8.0 | Uncut

8.0 | The Scotsman

8.0 | The Times

8.0 | Evening Standard

8.0 | Click Music

6.0 | Observer Music Monthly

6.0 | The Sunday Times

6.0 | Mojo

Watch it

Preview & download it

Latest Reviews

All-time top 10

IF YOU WANT TO
KEEP IN TOUCH
WITH ADM THEN
SIGN UP HERE