The Iditarod were very much a pioneering psychedelic folk group although for some this took the benefit of hindsight to realise as alongside the likes Stone Breath their music pre-dated the arrival of Freak Folk and mainstream breakthrough acts such as Banhart and Newsom.
At a time when indie rock was ruling venues finding a suitable place to perform their quieter music was difficult to say the least. The band eventually managed to find an ideal home base in Providence, Rhode Island where there was a more appreciative audience. They released The River Nektar in 1998. The core of the band was Carin Sloan (formerly Carin Wagner) and Jeffrey Alexander.
Amongst their self-penned material they also played traditional songs that they had learned from records by Anne Briggs and Pentangle. This new 2000-2003 collection on Morc Records titled Foxfur & Rarebits brings together oddments including alternate takes and live performances and although these songs were never meant to be together as an album, they do work as one.
By early 2000 the band had taken of the form of a collective and frequently invited guest artists up on stage to perform with them. On the album are some well known names including Sharron Kraus, Margie Wienk (Fern Knight), Matt Everett (Fern Knight, Will Oldham) and William Schaff whose album artwork many of you will have seen for Okkervil River and Songs: Ohia.
Foxfur & Rarebits is out now as an LP and Digital Download
LP via Norman Records
Digital via Bandcamp