Haight Ashbury - Freeman Town [Single]

Lime Records

Not often you come across a single that is categorised ‘Folk’ on iTunes which begins with an eerie crescendo of disturbing female vocals and slow picking acoustic guitar that places you in a void between what’s real and what’s not. You definitely know that this isn’t your standard ‘folk’ track, especially when you’re plunged straight into the song after the 20 second suspense created by the mysterious introduction.

The female vocals entices you to listen on, an aspect of a psychedelic past laced through the feminist lyrics, repeating lyrical female liberation and the fact that she “doesn’t need you now”. I haven’t quite decided if she’s trying to convince herself or us. The guitarist picks away, looping the same trance-like riffs over and over again, slowly putting me in some sort of stupor. The gentle rhythm of the percussion, mostly a blend of soft drums and tambourine enhances the gentle, spell-casting qualities to this single. It’s refreshing to hear such a laid back track, which induces you to keep it playing the whole way through. I did find myself replaying certain parts of the song just in case I missed something, but the repetition was so smoothly done it actually made you doubt yourself.

This single made me feel like a kid again when you bought cereal and you shoved your hand in and found that ‘free gift’ and it was way better than the picture on the box. The reason I say this is because the bonus tracks on the single, ‘Don’t let the music die’, ‘Favourite Song’ and ‘Million Man March’ were just as good, or even a tiny bit better than the opening track itself. The seven minute epic ‘Don’t let the music die’ was an incredible musical protest which could hold it’s own as a single itself. The emotionally charged track is a stunning piece of perfectly produced music with mixed vocals. The guitar compliments the voice, that helps the drums to enhance the bass and the underlying depth emerges and submerges like a buoy on the sea. You also get the original ‘Freeman Town’ mix as well as an instrumental, what more could you possibly want from a single?

I definitely rate this little nugget of tranquillity and musical exploration, if it can tease you aurally, then you know it’s something special.