
Molly Linen – Days Awake
Lost Map Records – 27 August 2021
Themes exploring natural connectivity and bucolic beauty have always been at the heart of folk music, and there’s no better example than ‘Days Awake’, the new EP from singer/guitarist Molly Linen. Born in Shropshire but now based in Glasgow, Linen first released her debut single, ‘Away’, and subsequent EP, ‘Outside’, back in 2019, establishing her beautifully calming sound. She described the EP as “acknowledging how good being outdoors and in the countryside is for if you’re feeling down.” Her latest EP represents an evolution of these foundations and incorporates a slightly more transcendental feel while still keeping its feet firmly planted in folk.
The EP’s opener, ‘A Lot to Give’, was first released as a single back in March and garnered some attention after being featured on BBC 6 Music, among other radio shows. The track begins with the sound of a hypnotic droning air organ note before being joined by Linen’s precise finger-plucked acoustic notes and delicate vocals to establish the dreamy, almost ethereal, atmosphere that defines the track and flows throughout the EP. The lyrics seem to be encouraging an unknown subject to let go of their pain and spread some love into the world; “You have a lot to give, so go on and give it.”
Of the song’s themes, Linen explains that the track is “an imagined conversation with an imagined person who lacks empathy. A heart broken like a carelessly dropped vase.” The accompanying music video, released in April and premiered on Folk Radio here, presents a literal approach to this explanation, showing Linen picking parts of a broken vase out of a stream and putting them back together.
The soft, meditative feel of this track continues into ‘The Day Starts’, albeit with a slightly more traditional folk sound. Catchy melodic guitar and piano notes mix with subtle bass and percussion while Linen’s vocals weave their way in between, creating a perfectly summery feel to the track. As Linen herself explains, the song is “an attempt at capturing memories of long summer days spent in the dream-like warmth of my grandparents’ garden.”
A personal favourite, ‘Space’ begins in a similar fashion to the EP’s opener, with a long ambient-style droning note before Linen’s soft guitar notes float into view. With this being one of the most smooth and catchy songs on the EP, when the chorus comes in with Linen singing “give her time, give her space,” it’s almost impossible not to sing along. ‘Awake at Night’ is a comparatively minimal track, returning to a more conventional sound. Linen’s plucky guitar notes recall a Yasmin Williams-esque feel and create a similarly relaxing atmosphere.
Linen’s intricate guitar work takes centre stage in the final two tracks, ‘Home’ and ‘Spring’, making use of both acoustic and electric sounds. The final moments of ‘Spring’ feel like a culmination of all the elements that have come together throughout this EP. Powerful yet smooth guitar chords, catchy percussion, and Linen’s layered vocals all merge to present a strong, commanding conclusion to the EP while maintaining the velvety tones and calming nature that define all of Linen’s work.
Gorgeous and precise, ‘Days Awake’ is a masterful piece of work that takes Linen’s signature serene sound and elevates it with varied instrumentation and ambient-inspired elements. This is the kind of project you’ll want to listen to through headphones while taking a walk through a local park, allowing its contagious sense of peace to remind you of the beauty that nature can offer.
Pre-Order via Bandcamp (10″ vinyl/digital)
Photo Credit: Caio Wheelhouse