Sleep England by Michael Cashmore (Review)

And now for something decidedly not bombastic (though still quite sincere)… Michael Cashmore has been one of the foundational folks in apocalyptic folk outfit Current 93 since the ’80s; his lovely guitar-work lends a warmth to David Tibet’s wild-eyed ravings and Steven Stapleton’s bizarre electronic manipulations. He’s also gone solo, occasionally producing music in a Current 93-esque vein under the Nature and Organisation moniker.

However, 2006’s Sleep England is Cashmore’s first solo album under his own name, and as you might imagine, it’s a considerably more stripped down affair that’s focused entirely on his sparse, elegant guitar-playing. There’s nothing showy in these 13 tracks, just one lovely composition full of fragile notes and filigrees followed by another. At times, Sleep England seems almost too stripped down, even repetitive, but then on songs like “Dream England” or the title track, Cashmore weaves in surprising nuances and melodic shifts that add another layer of emotion to the music.