“Artists' Rifles” by Piano Magic is one of the greatest Neofolk albums of all time.
“Wait - Neofolk?” wonders the well-disposed post-rocker, distastefully. “What?? Neofolk?” objects the sophisticated neofolker, sneering. Yes, „Artists' Rifles“ is one of these paramount examples of artificial boundaries created by decorative attachment. From a mere musical perspective, it’s difficult to comprehend why the album never really made it over into „goth circles“, despite the band's later signing to 4AD. It has all the makings of their neofolk siblings: martial drums, sugar-sweet poetry, dark nostalgia, neo-classical references and even the WWI-themed concept and artwork, just to name a few textbook ingredients.
But what does it matter anyway?
“A Return to the Sea” is an unheard-of maritime canon, “The Password”’s crescendo was anticipating the best moments of many shoe-gazers and post-rockers to follow and “The Index” - after almost 25 years of monthly airplay on our vessel - has not lost the goosebumps effect.
A few days Rocket Girl announced the vinyl re-edition of “Artists’ Rifles”.
