Blue may not be in fashion anymore, especially around the feast of St Valentine where by common consent we can all pink it up but I seem to have those old folk blues again. The appearance of Mumford and Sons on the Grammys last night marks a commercial high point of Folk Music’s wash against the bastions of pop not seen since Bob first outraged the denizens of the finger in ear and bad jumpers at the Newport Folk Festival. When Dylan showed up with Mike Bloomfield and Al Kooper, with electric bass and drums to boot, and proceeded to make the first public union of noise and old traditional song forms it started a trend that has refused to die away, fittingly he joined the Mumford’s on stage last night.
The rise of the Mumfords with girlfriend Laura Marling, Bon Iver and Noah & the Whale over the last 2-3 years has been a guilty pleasure and reminds me of when Zep and the progressive rock boom of the 70’s was always a counterpoint to the folk tradition, Bron-y-Aur Stomp anyone?
Why is it resonating with todays popsters? maybe its the contrast from the obvious machinations of the studio and the slick costumes and dance excitement of pop’s current queens going gaga over autotune. Maybe strong songs and vocals over the stripped accompaniment of acoustic guitars and cellos elevates the listener in a different way than raps rumble and roar, princesses and platitudes over pimps and ho’s.
In a wine context its the triumph of simple Merlot in a traditional style, yes that includes tannins and tastes of terroir without the autotune of vanilla oak and sugar, the folk style of 12% rather than the bling of 15%. Wine to enjoy with old friends over a languid sunday lunch.
Several people, me included, responded to a recent Greg Dal Piaz article for Snooth about Merlot making a comeback in an outraged manner, like old crusties hearing the electric shrill at Bob’s 1963 Newport gig saying how can you write an article on Merlot and not mention St Emilion or any of the right bank Bordeaux’s! His lame excuse was that the majority have a small blend of Cab and Cab Franc in them so he considered them more meritage than Merlot.
So to correct that oversight when you are listening to the excellent Mumford’s collaboration with Laura Marling and the Dharohar Project drink Chateau L’Enclos’ Classique 2005 and feel the traditions envelop you, and have some farmhouse cheese with it!
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