Aberfeldy
Young Forever

THE REVIEW

DeGenere: FOLK
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If I read on the profile of any artist that they are categorized in this genre, I am almost certain that I would avoid them without even thinking for a second, even more so in the case of newcomers. What do we imagine when we say folk? Simple music for simple people, nothing that is or will ever be a milestone, indeed I would rather define it as "popular" music, in the negative sense of the term: almost something stupid. What is meant by "folk music"? Bucolic atmospheres, rural landscapes, sounds of slightly retro instruments.
And that is exactly the case. And it drives me crazy. Young Forever is a concentrate of irresistible music and I challenge anyone to resist following the choruses.
Right from the opening track (A Friend Like You), you encounter a whirlwind of mandolins, guitars, harps, violins, little bells, and even the xylophone, played with discretion and sensitivity by this quintet of young Scots. In Summer's Gone, there is even a Bontempi organ accompanied by strings.
The Aberfeldy make folk music, the Aberfeldy are simple, the Aberfeldy play superbly and have created a unique gem.
The closest thing I know to compare them to is Belle & Sebastian, but what can I say? ...Belle & Sebastian have never quite convinced me, whereas these Aberfeldy have won me over, for the past 2 weeks I've been carrying their CD around everywhere and listening to it on repeat (also because the whole thing wraps up in barely 40 minutes excellently distributed over 12 tracks): when this happens, it means that yet another new "musical love story" has begun in my life.

These guys are strangely not at all depressed by the typical grayness and fog of their native Edinburgh, instead, they radiate optimism and joie de vivre, it seems they've grown up in the vast fields of Indiana. My favorite track is the tender Surly Girl, with the initial violin strings violently plucked and torn, almost screaming, then the choruses and the entire rainbow of other instruments come to soothe. Something I Must Tell You, on the other hand, although also dominated by choruses, completely changes its tune, much faster, even danceable, capable of filling gloomy days with joy with its compelling tempo.
I haven't yet delved into the subjects of the lyrics, but just by reading the titles, I don't believe that depth is their dominant feature, and that's just fine: spring, sun, boys and girls, days outdoors. They present themselves as carefree and cheerful, it would be absurd for them to tackle existential themes and their discomfort with the world (also because I can say without fear of contradiction that there is not even the slightest trace of discomfort or anger). Could you ever imagine Jonathan Davis and his Korn singing about the joy brought by life and the harmony of things?

Young Forever will never change the course of music history; it is an album with a rustic and delicate (perhaps too much so) atmosphere that only risks going unnoticed, elbowed out (or rather "guarded," if you'll allow me the term) by other CDs placed next to it on store shelves. It is hoped that the lion on the cover busy with non-epic affairs will at least manage to pique curiosity.
Great debut that earns a convincing 4/5.
I'm happy to be able to share this discovery, and I hope I've learned a lesson for the future: I believe it is indeed time to recalibrate my parameters and be less rigid in the future, otherwise I might risk missing out on great albums.