They've got a name and album cover tailor-made for the resurgent L.A. freak-folk scene, but these homespun bards are keeping Manchester their home and Nick Drake their muse. They could have it either way. Starless make lush, strummy stuff that peaks with banjo plunks and ethereal vocal harmonies.
Starless & Bible Black make beautiful spirited & catchy songs in the grand tradition of classic British folk rockers Pentangle and John & Beverley Martyn straight on up through the halcyon days of early 4AD records. On their debut self titled outing, the diverse Manchester 3 piece brings to bear much of the lively attitude, passion and rain, rain, rain of the old textile city they’ve all come to call home for the last several years. The result is a great collection of 11 songs - at once earthen and elevated – that are given added mood and flavor by the charcoal vocals of French chanteuse Hélène Gautier.