Just before Christmas I met up with Lupen in Liverpool during his support slot performance with Carina Round. I quickly established that this friendly and rather shy young man really changes character when on stage and on record. Anyone who welcomes a little adventure into their musical lives should seek out this album…

There’s nothing conventional or mainstream about this maverick artist’s music, quickly evident with the album’s opening track, ‘Cackle And The Crown.’ An innocent little guitar chord and pleading, whining vocal is followed with a loud bass guitar chord and eventually a full-on blues rock explosion, courtesy of his band The Murderbirds. Lupen’s vocal becomes more aggressive and angrier along until a trashy guitar strum returns and the song is stopped dead in its tracks. This is folk music like you’ve never heard it before. ‘The Number Of Frames’ opens as the last song finished but then reverts to contemplative style with mysterious vocal flourishes over a doom-laden drum rhythm. There are no pretensions with this music, no compromises and a rawness that is irresistible. ‘Matthew’s Magpie’ is a raucous rant accompanied by a band that magnifies the cataclysmic nature of the song and its message. ‘Staghead And Monster’ is a relatively quiet, mournful and wistful affair with just the occasional rise in temperature and trademark uncensored language.

This is a wonderful album from a young man whose most innermost feelings come through in his music and unique performance style. Every emotion-filled track is a winner; melodic, uncompromising. This is not comfort-zone stuff but it will seduce you like few artists and albums can…

4.5/5