Gwenifer Raymond - Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark

An astounding artist from Brighton, U.K by the name of Gwenifer Raymond has emerged in recent years. An acoustic guitarist & banjo player with an incredible fingerpicking ability, she could easily be ranked a genius at her art playing in a style reminiscent of pre-war blues artists such as Skip James and Blind Boy Fuller as well as the American Primitive style popularized by John Fahey. She brings to life an antique sound which hasn't being performed by many modern artists, hence creating sounds which harken back to a glorious time in musical history. Gwenifer's latest album, Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark will be released on September 5th by We Are Busy Bodies and will doubtlessly be quite a significant event for the folk and blues scenes both here in North America as well as in Europe.

Album opener 'Banjo Players of the Aleph One starts off with some exquisite guitar playing, equal to that of Jeff Buckley (RIP) at his most majestic. Gwenifer then transitions over to banjo picking showcasing a complete euphoria of musical virtuosity. A masterful creation of southern bluesy country which would have been heard emanating out of the southern U.S. many moons ago. Next up is 'Jack Parsons' Blues', a very alluring mystical piece with a heavy middle eastern guitar vibe and inspired by Gwenifer's interest in NASA Rocket Scientist Jack Parsons; himself a follower of the occult and mystic. Therefore Gwenifer through the use of sound takes us into the world of the esoteric with images one could easily imagine of Parsons, conjured from beyond to advance his science into realms unknown.

'Champion Ivy' is very uplifting and throughout the track we have a melding of old blues and folk rhythms powerful both in terms of their display of agility as well as fingerwork. Imagine John Fahey at his most intriguing with a touch of antique blues added to the mix. 'Bliws Afon Taf' is a magnificent piece, very much reminiscent of the rare folk sound which Jimmy Page in all his mastery was creating with acoustic guitar on Led Zeppelin IV. The album switches to more melancholy territory with the track 'Bonfire of the Billionaires'. Here, it's as if Gwenifer is channeling through her folk sound; an aural depiction of the saddening reality in which we live where billionaires have now become our overlords causing our lives to become subsequently insufferable and how there's a need to do away with them. The song is very appropriately named, and it's nice to see Gwenifer bring a political edge to her music.

Next up we are gifted with 'Dreams of Rhiannon's Birds', a mesmerizingly cheerful, bluesy, folky piece, with slide guitar introduced midway, while 7th auditory blessing 'Last Night I Heard the Dogstar Bark' is a piece which stands out due to its deftness with respect to skill and originality. Eerie and haunting, it's effortless in its ability to evoke emotions. Furthermore its evident that Gwenifer's talent for playing a multitude of notes with two hands (which would otherwise take two people to accomplish) is nothing short of extraordinary. This moves towards "Cattywomp", a piece heavily informed by very old school country blues.

Penultimate track 'Bleak Night in Rabbit's Wood' showcases a change in mood and a more urgent sound with an altogether impressive folk picking style. This number resonates powerfully with Gwenifer who is able to alter states of consciousness through her playing. 'One Day You'll Lie Here But Everything Will Have Changed' is a pleasantly uplifting bluesy country folk number with a definite American Primitive style and one which quite aptly concludes the wonderful experience I have had throughout the record's duration.

It's obvious that Gwenifer Raymond is a talent and that this upcoming album is an achievement of huge proportions. So listeners looking for authentic art will find Last Night I Heard the Dog Star Bark nothing short of pure auditory bliss and an absolute must-hear!

Review by Maxwell Seeman.