Originally released in 2007 as a CD compilation curated by Mark Coyle (founder of the late Woven Wheat Whispers), John Barleycorn Reborn: Dark Britannica is to be re-issued on gold vinyl by Burning World Records. It includes some of our all-time favourites including the likes of Sharron Kraus, The Owl Service, Pumajaw, The A Lords, The Kitchen Cynics and more.
A discovery of folk music from dark Britannica. ‘John Barleycorn Reborn’ explores seasonal birth, death and rebirth on this 4LP. Originally released in 2007 on 2CD by Cold Spring and now in a 4LP box with an extensive booklet on Burning World Records.
This compilation explores the darker side of British folk music, evoking the mystery of our ancient past and peoples, the strangeness of their beliefs, arcane traditions and the remnants of this carried down the centuries as folklore. The set has an extended booklet with articles, essays and explorations of the album’s concept.
The album was compiled as a cooperation between Cold Spring and Woven Wheat Whispers. Curated by Mark Coyle.
John Barleycorn Reborn: Dark Britannica Track Listing:
LP1
A1. The Horses Of The Gods – ‘John Barleycorn’
A2. The Owl Service – ‘North Country Maid’
A3. The Story – ‘The Wicker Man’
A4. Damh The Bard – ‘Spirit Of Albion’
B1. Mary Jane – ‘Twa Corbies’
B2. Andrew King – ‘Dives And Lazarus’
B3. The Triple Tree – ‘Three Crowns’
B4. Sol Invictus – ‘To Kill All Kings’
LP2
C1. Sieben – ‘Ogham On The Hill (Remix)’
C2. Sharron Kraus – ‘Horn Dance’
C3. Charlotte Greig And Johan Asherton – ‘Lay The Bent To The Bonny Broom’
C4. Pumajaw – ‘The Burning Of Auchindoun’
D1. Peter Ulrich – ‘The Scryer & The Shewstone’
D2. Alphane Moon – ‘Where The Hazel Grows’
D3. English Heretic – ‘Hippomania’
D4. Far Black Furlong – ‘Icy Solstice Eye’
LP3
E1. The Anvil – ‘John Barleycorn Must Die’
E2. Tinkerscuss – ‘To Make You Stay’
E3. The Straw Bear Band – ‘Trial By Bread & Butter’
E4. Electronic Voice Phenomena – ‘The Sorrow Of Rimmon’
F1. The Purple Minds Of Lazeron – ‘Dragonfly’
F2. Sand Snowman – ‘Stained Glass Morning’
F3. The A Lords – ‘Summerhouse’
F4. The Kitchen Cynics – ‘The Guidman’s Ground’
LP4
G1. Quickthorn – ‘PewPew’
G2. Clive Powell – ‘Reed Sodger’
G3. Venereum Arvum – ‘Child 102 Willie And Earl Richard’s Daughter’
G4. Drohne – ‘Nottamun Town’
H1. Stormcrow – ‘Gargoyle’
H2. Doug Peters – ‘Pact’
H3. While Angels Watch – ‘Obsidian Blade’
H4. Xenis Emputae Travelling Band – ‘John Barleycorn: His Life, Death And Resurrection’
H5. Martyn Bates – ‘The Resurrection Apprentice’
Order it via Burning World Records here.
You can also read more about the album in this interview with Mark at Terrascope here.