The Winter Journey
The Winter Journey are Anthony Braithwaite and Suzy Mangion, a gentle duo out of place in Manchester, England who create gorgeous music in their drawing room as if it were only yesterday. Their album is a perfect eleven songs of vintage warmth and homely welcomes that could only be formed from a collection of music recorded by hand on birthdays, Christmases and other days of rest.
Musically we get drawn through their land of pastoral finger picked guitar, village hall harmonies, magical zither minimalism and also a touch of tap dancing. Lyrically we’re invited to a meeting of philosophical minds and personal metaphysical ruminations that inspire a deeper understanding of a world that we’ve perhaps forgotten.
Anthony has written the songs and wears his influences with pride – McCartney melodies, Gainsbourg wit, Elliot Smith balladry, Beach Boy harmonies, The Carter Family sing-alongs and even a little Krautrock – all with a friendly intelligence worthy of someone who’s been described by one journalist as the Stephen Fry of folk music.
Both Suzy and Anthony were previously in the band George who released albums on Pickled Egg Records gathering plaudits including Pitchfork’s Top 50 albums of 2003 and they have toured with bands such as a A Hawk and A Hacksaw and Nalle. Suzy also releases records under her own name and has sung on records by Piano Magic, Arbol and Big Eyes Family Players.
The first 500 copies are packaged in a hand made, hand stamped and numbered limited edition.
“delightful hidden treasures.....wonderfully tender fire side gems... a rich tapestry of classically drilled Brit folk” Losing Today
“gorgeous tapestries of rustic country folk music…… a group dripping with quaint romanticism, bookish sophistication and lots and lots of cool refinement…… warm-blanket intimacy” Manchester Evening News
Listen to some mp3 clips below.......
>> Website: http://www.myspace.com/thewinterjourney
>> MP3 audio file: malachi my messenger
>> MP3 audio file: clean kick
>> MP3 audio file: lost
>> MP3 audio file: kill devil hills