Playlouder - Music is the Network

Such is the way with these things that, having found themselves a bit too early last time, The Boggs may find themselves a bit too late this time to capture the imagination (such as it is) of the press and the public. Their rightful place at the vanguard of the North American folk invasion of these islands was not so much usurped (by other, hairier individuals) as it was wandered into. Whence came this gap? Wherefore, after the barnstorming brilliance of 'We are...' and 'Stitches', have we remained Boggless for half a decade?

I could only assume the ingratitude of the fools who share my air supply was the reason for The Boggs' swift nosedive from the public eye last time, but closer inspection indicates that the truth was far more convoluted: a series of unfortunate events that led to mainman Jason Friedman running away to Berlin. It took him a while to build these 'Forts', but I'm happy to say it was well worth the wait.

Having previously been described as a 'more artsy Pogues' perhaps it's no suprise that Friedman has shied away a bit from the folk sound. Not that I imagine for a moment that the swift-plucked sentences of the music journalist have much of a bearing on an artist's direction, particularly one as unique as Friedman. But punk folk has become a mire of sorts, and one that plenty have stumbled into or trudged through. Few frolic long in there wihtout coming out stale and stinking.

While 'Forts' stretches, remoulds and remakes the band's sound, there are tracks here, such as 'Melanie in the White Coat' that have all the haggard, swaggering glory of their earlier material. the aforementioned is, for me, what Friedman does better than any other - civil war style melodies coming up for air amidst a stormy tar-black ocean of noise. It makes Gogol Bordello look like a Wurzels tribute act.

The more avant-garde lo-fi artsy mumblings are still packed with more raw charm than most can muster in a whole album. 'Poor Things' is Tunng with extra tongue. And check out the glam rock stomp underpinning the folk blues of  'Arm in Arm'. Weren't expecting that, were you? (That is a Gary Glitter sample, right?)  The most enduring thing about The Boggs has always been the ramshackle beauty of the journey from start to finish. It's never easy to get through a whole album but it's so rewarding to do it. The band have always had a rare feeling of immediacy, as though if they'd accidentally forgot to push 'record' they'd have come up with a different song altogether on the next take. Whatever you may think of this kitchen sink four-track blackcurrant jam disaster, you ain't heard it before, that's for sure.

Tour please.