Is there an inherent irony in a name like The Modern Folk, and their collection of covers, Nine Pound Hammer EP? A collection of old songs fitting within that oldest of genres, the cover art depicting a railway bridge that looks straight out of the old West.
The irony is that the appeal of this EP, to me at least, is the lack of modernity on display. There's none of the trappings that one might associate with modern music. Instruments that are given space to breathe, vocals that wobble and strain and sound like they wouldn't even know what autotune is let alone make any use of it. You could have told me this album came out 60 years ago and I would have believed you, with its warm and fuzzy analogue sound.
The songs themselves are wonderful. The opening title track, Nine Pound Hammer sucks you in immediately with reverberating guitars and simple drums. The vocals are so weary, it sounds like the singer's voice could crack up at any moment, it's great.
See That My Grave is Kept Clean is darker, and more intimate. A blues song with a simple acoustic guitar and vocal set up, I wouldn't be surprised to find that this was recorded in a single take. The same goes for Two Sisters, although it's much lighter and more folksy than Grave.
Things broaden up again with Keys to the Highway, a stomping and drunken blues track, whose shambolic nature makes for a really fun listen before finally landing on No More Cane's Tom Waits-esque folk lullaby.
It's a great record, and I enjoyed it a whole lot. I think some of those rough edges and vocal warbles might put off those who seek out more modern trappings, but they'd be missing out on a warm and drunken hug of an EP.