JOYCE THE LIBRARIAN – They May Put Land Between Us (FOLKWIT RECORDS f0083)

Joyce The Librarian are as enigmatic as their music. They would seem to be a quartet from Bristol led by singer-songwriter Martin Callingham. That said they are surrounded by a number of musicians who are as important to the sound as the core of the band. This is their full length debut following the EP, The Weight Of The Line, earlier this year and the single ‘Follow Me, I’m Right Behind You’ which almost qualifies as a singalong number.

Over guitars and organ (Tom Van Eker and Houdie) and Will Simpson’s cello are more strings, brass and occasional drums. Jim Cornish, who provides trumpet and flugelhorn, has a huge impact on the title track and initially I felt that his contributions were more far-reaching than they actually are. Inevitably live performances will be pared down in comparison with the album, which brings us back to the songs to provide impact.

Enigmatic is what I said and enigmatic is what I meant. ‘Dolly Parton’, for example, doesn’t seem to have anything to do with pneumatic blonde country singers and ‘Breakfast Club’ appears to be an almost random title assigned to a rather lovely song. The single and ‘Land’, the title track, both grabbed my attention immediately as did ‘Turn Yourself In’ and ‘Over Dinmore’ and that, for me, is a high strike rate.

Joyce The Librarian are following a path of their own and it will be fascinating to see where it takes them.

Dai Jeffries

Artist’s website: www.joycethelibrarian.net