Welcome to the home of Rif Mountain Records, a small independant co-op label.
The Owl Service was formed by Steven Collins in 2006 as a vehicle to explore his love of cult British films and television of the 1960s and '70s, the great outdoors, and the sound of the English folk revival. Their debut album, A Garland of Song, was released on their own Hobby-Horse imprint in the Summer of 2007 and was reissued a year later to much critical acclaim. The album is an eclectic selection of traditional material interspersed with mostly instrumental originals and it fuses the sound of the folk revival with Eastern sensibilities and a doom-laden garage-rock sound (described by Plan B magazine as "...an O'Malley-esque fug", much to the delight of the Sunn O))) loving Collins). An EP recorded with Alison O'Donnell (formerly of legendary Irish '70s prog/folk band Mellow Candle) entitled The Fabric of Folk followed on Static Caravan in the Autumn of 2008. Their sophomore full length record was released on May Day 2010 via their own Rif Mountain imprint.
The band are about to release a 7" EP of Tom Rapp songs, a 'redux' version of their debut album A Garland of Song, and the final part of their Pattern Beneath the Plough series (all 3 releases will be extremely limited editions only available to mailing list subscribers) after which the Owls will be taking a hiatus to concentrate on other projects.
To follow Steven Collins' future musical endeavours visit www.stonetaperecordings.co.uk.
"Icy female vocals and crystalline electric guitars thread through sinister traditional tunes, recalling Trees’ 1970 classic On the Shore and Fairport Convention’s Liege and Lief." - Sunday Times
"When the curtain closes we are left with an album perfectly out of place with popular folk thinking. One that that leaves lasting ripples in the pond and challenges the mainstream by standing still. The View From A Hill? Pretty spectacular actually" - The Line of Best Fit
"Their bold performances embrace subtle theatrical nuances, bringing freshness and lifelike qualities to this collection of traditional tales, with a clarity and commitment that has ample potential to enlighten even the uninitiated" - http://mikewilsonmusicblog.blogspot.com
A Garland of Song
Hobby-Horse / OAK005CD
Released June 2007
01 - A Garland Of Song (Folk Revival)
02 - Child Ballad No. 49
03 - Hoodening
04 - Turpin Hero
05 - The North Country Maid
06 - The Lammas
07 - Katie Cruel
08 - Oxford City (or The Jealous Lover)
09 - The Dorset Hanging Oak
10 - Apple Tree Man
11 - Child Ballad No. 219
12 - Corn Dollies
13 - Flanders Shore
Click here for free download
(--aps mp3 files)