Arborea

2013 release. Among the most artistically successful alchemists of indie/psychedelic folk, Maine-based duo Arborea consists of Shanti Curran (vocals, banjo, "banjimer" (a banjo-dulcimer hybrid), harmonium, ukulele, sawing fiddle, and hammered dulcimer) and Buck Curran (guitars, vocals, sawing fiddle, flute, and banjo). Weaving together strands of indie rock, Appalachian folk, psychedelia, and ambient music into what has been called avant-folk, Arborea's songs combine delicate beauty and mystical lyrics with the timelessness of ancient songs (sometimes literally, as they occasionally rework old folk and blues songs into new shapes). Fortress of the Sun is their fifth full-length album, and their first on ESP-Disk'. Shanti Curran: vocals, banjo, guitar, harmonium, ukulele, hammered dulcimer; Buck Curran: vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, flute, Ebow banjo. With: Anders Griffen: drums on "Pale Horse Phantasm"; Greg Boardman: upright bass on "Daughters of Man" and "Rider" and viola on "Cherry Tree Carol"; Michael Krapovicky: electric bass on "After the Flood Only Love Remains." Produced, created, recorded, and mixed by Buck Curran and Shanti Curran; mastered by Harris Newman. RIYL: Espers, The Pentangle, Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley, Sharon Van Etten, Mazzy Star, Robbie Basho. Fortress of the Sun appeared in AllMusic's "Favorite Folk Albums of 2013" and "Favorite Singer/Songwriter Albums of 2013" lists, as well as Acoustic Guitar Magazine's "Best Acoustic Albums of 2013" and the "Best of Echoes 2013 Listener Poll."