Bedroom Community

Charming folky melancholy.

En Garde, along with its deliberately ambiguous story of conception, is an utterly beguiling record. The Isle of Wight's Puzzle Muteson delivers vibrato-laden melancholy vocals with more than a hint of fragility throughout. Backed largely by acoustic guitar and piano, the delicate arrangements, particularly on "Water Rising", and "Glover", entice and hold the listener with intrigue. What next? Another layer of guitar? Some additional baritone backig vocals? And herein lies the finest quality of En Garde and productions like it; we can never pre-empt a true artist. En Garde deserves all the plaudits heading its way; an etheral folk album for us musical escapists to really immerse ourselves in. Gorgeous stuff.

Sam Bethell