We haven't been so excited about Communion since we found out it was alcohol in that chalice. An indie super-team consisting of Ben Lovett (of Mumford & Sons) and Kevin Jones (of Cherbourg) formed a record label called
Communion which is inexplicably cunning at spotting acts of the highest quality. Hosting
early shows in the careers of Laura Marling, Noah and the Whale and The Dodos, the boys have clearly got an eye, and an ear, for the excellent.
Having spent a while organising club nights involving their talented sign-ups, they've seen the light and created a compilation album of tracks from such
indie-folk all-stars as Johnny Flynn, Alessi's Ark, Jay Jay Pistolet and Mumford & Sons. Needless to say, it's wonderful.
We were enchanted from the first chapter, between Johnny Flynn's butter-rich voice,
the charm of Jay Jay Pistolet's Vintage Red, the atmospheric, even haunting Circle In A Square from Marcus Foster and Stokes, William's Zion we can't recall a more musically engaging twenty minutes. Other highlights are
Matthew and the Atlas' tumble through the joyous Deadwood and Beans on Toast's light-hearted gravely tones.
That is not to say, of course, that the in between tracks are not worth celebrating.
We just haven't got room to give them all the praise they deserve. But by the time the compilation rounds off with the gloriously atmospheric Light Home from Matt Corby, we challenge you not to start it all over again.
www.communionmusic.co.uk
