The fiery neo-folk-rocker, Uca’s Dance is the second single from the Moulettes’ critically acclaimed album, ‘The Bear’s Revenge’.
The band welcomed back ex-Moulette, Ted Dwane, now of Mumford & Sons to play on these sessions (one of the b-sides, a version of Devil Of Mine recorded in a Manchester church in 2007, also includes Ted’s distinctive double bass-playing as a full-time Moule).
The genesis of Uca’s Dance is quite a story. Moulettes’s songwriter, Hannah Miller conceived it when she was a music-workshop leader at the Most Mira (meaning Peace Bridge) children’s festival in the Prijedor region of Bosnia in 2009. The aim of the festival was inspire artistic creativity in the young participants and build lasting bonds in their community. One night a Romanian fire-dancer, Uca, who was also working with the children, performed a dazzling impromptu dance, and Hannah spontaneously improvised an accompaniment. The song was born.
Happy Halloween from folking!
But, as with much of Miller’s work, reality blurs into fantastical fiction. In Moulettes myth-making Uca becomes an imprisoned fire-dancer in a circus of cruelty which has also incarcerated a dancing bear. The good-hearted Uca helps the bear escape in a denouement of fire, blood and eventual flight, quite literally, in a hot-air balloon: hence The Bear’s Revenge. Hannah is working on an illustrated book which extends the universe of her songs.
“Moulettes are among the frontrunners of the new British acoustic scene thanks to their sophisticated, unpredictable approach, matching precise female harmony vocals against complex, swirling backing featuring violin, cello and bassoon.” **** Robin Denselow, The Guardian
“This is what a modern folk album should sound like.” **** London Evening Standard
“…songwriting of rare depth and inventiveness this is a mature, often inspired album.” **** Songlines
“The best music I heard at Latitude was by the Moulettes” The Independent
“This delicious music is played with acoustic virtuosity…Complex and beautiful…Intriguing and unique” **** MOJO
“Divine harmonies…Orchestral folk at its very finest.” ***** Time Out
You must be logged in to post a comment.