Boduf Songs is the stage name of Mat Sweet, under which he makes alternative, somewhat dark, folk-oriented music. Sweet is originally from Southampton, England, and has been releasing music under the Boduf Songs pseudonym since 2004. This album, Boduf Songs (2005), is Boduf Songs’ self-titled debut, which was originally self-released and was reissued by Kranky Records in 2005. Pitchfork described the album as something of a gloomy British folk composition with psychedelic-inflections throughout. I’m pretty excited to give this album a listen, so with that said, I’m going to jump on into the music.
“Puke a Pitch Black Rainbow to the Sun” gradually fades in with what sounds to be some reversed strings that give a bit of a raga-inflection to the soundscape, and is followed shortly by some melancholic folk guitar that sort of reminds me of Bert Jansch. I’m really digging this track so far, which sort of reminds me of Nick Drake, but not quite as depressive in sound. Oh wow, there are some really sweet harmonies between the vocals and the flowing acoustic guitar that remind me a lot of Espers. Wow, great track and I’m excited to hear more.
“Claimant Reclaimed” gets started with some tentative acoustic guitar, which alternates between the same two notes, nearly giving a sense of urgency to the soundscape by doing so. Oh wow, there’s a really interesting drum that almost has a bit of an industrial sound to it. Oh wow, I really dig how you can hear Sweet’s hand sliding across the strings of the acoustic guitar. This track seems to gradually become more optimistic as the music keeps flowing. Oh wow, there’s a really sweet harmony of some droning instrumentation that the song breaks through to at a couple moments in the track. It almost sounds like flute combined with a hurdy gurdy, or some other droning stringed folk instrument. Oh wow, the droning section becomes a bit dissonant as the acoustic guitar drops away for the outro. Super sweet track.
“Our Canon of Transportation” starts with a mixture of bells, chimes, and other percussion, with some reversed strings for a moment that bring in a sort of psychedelic world and raga sound that I’m really digging. Wow, super sweet track.
“This One is Cursed” starts with some flowing, deep, and earthy acoustic guitar, accompanied by soft vocals that nearly sound as though Sweet is singing you a lullaby. Oh wow, the song takes a bit of an eerie turn for a moment in both the guitar and vocals before resolving back to the sweet, British folk lullaby sound. Oh wow, the guitar changes up a bit in the latter half of the song, as more accentuations are added to the melody. Great track.
“Grains” begins with some optimistic-sounding guitar that reminds me of looking outside just after a storm breaks up above you, as you stare at all of the wet grass, bushes, and trees while the sun tries to peer through the remaining clouds. The guitar in this track again reminds me of Nick Drake. I really dig the layering of the vocals in this track, which seem to gently harmonize from across the soundscape. Super sweet track.
“Lost In Forests” begins with the sound of rushing water accompanied by birds chirping scattered about the soundscape. Oh wow, the super mellow guitar and vocals come in as the nature sounds fade away. The guitar in this track reminds me a lot of the peaceful folk style of Six Organs of Admittance. Oh wow, the guitar and vocals exit and a somewhat eerie rising tone comes in while some synths seem to wash throughout the soundscape. Oh wow, the synth section resolves back to the sounds of nature, with the rising tone seemingly resolving back into the chirping of a bird. Great track.
Oh wow, “Ape Thanks Lamb” starts out with some relatively fast-paced acoustic folk guitar, which is probably the most intricate guitar work in the album thus far. I’m reminded a fair deal of Bert Jansch in the guitar work in this track, as I think the style resembles his particular British folk style of playing. Great track.
“Oh Celebrate Your Vague Words and Coquettish Sovereignty” starts with Sweet softly counting up to 3, and then the gently flowing acoustic guitar work and Sweet’s softly droning vocals seemingly fall into place. The instrumentation has the flowing quality of a gently moving stream. Oh wow, some electric guitar comes into the soundscape with a bit of a grating tone and a raga style that I’m really digging; the electric guitar work might even be reversed as it makes its way back and forth throughout the soundscape. Great tune.
“Vapour Steals the Glow” begins with a sort of ghostly breezing noise, almost sounding like shadows crying out from a cave beneath a manor in the English hillsides. Oh wow, some layers come in and intensify the ghostly and eerie sound of the intro. Holy smokes, the intro sounded like it could have broken through to a massive psychedelic rock section, but it instead resolved to a solemn folk line, as the folksy guitar and the layering of the vocals almost sound as the a lone wandering spirit singing an old folk song. Oh wow, some bright-sounding drones come into the soundscape that remind me of a movement in a song from earlier in the album. Oh wow, those bright sounding drones stop suddenly, and all that’s left is the slowly flowing acoustic guitar and soft drones of Sweet’s vocals as the song comes to an end. Wow, great track, and a great way to end the album.
Holy smokes, I’m glad I checked out this album tonight. The dark, British folk style of Boduf Songs/Mat Sweet reminded me a lot of some strange mash-up of Bert Jansch and Nick Drake, with some modern psychedelic touches that verge on ambient music at times. I was also reminded a bit of the tranquility of Six Organs of Admittance at certain points throughout the album as well. If you’re into British folk music at all, especially that is darker in mood, then you might want to consider checking out this album. If you do decide to give this album a listen, I sincerely do hope that you enjoy the listening experience at least as much as I did.
-A