The Sun Also Rises
' only album is extremely reminiscent of
the Incredible String Band
's brand of mystical
acid
folk
. Where
could mix jovial, introspective, and even menacing moods, however,
the Sun Also Rises
' range is more limited. While their blend of guitar, dulcimer, glockenspiel, bells, and more can be pleasing, the mood is about as twee as it ever got for
British
. Much of that's due to how
Graham Hemingway
and
Anne Hemingway
's twisting high harmonies have a cutesy flutter at their high end. But the precious melodies and lyrics do their part as well, giving off the air of a too-genteel
Renaissance
Faire. There are some nice wistful melodies and harmonies, though the mood is occasionally shattered (as on
"Until I Do"
) by some way-too-farcical kazoo. At their tweest, they can sound as if they're trapped in a toy music box. They're better when they get a shred more serious and explore minor melodies, as on
ballads
like
"Part of the Room"
and their reworking of the
standard
"O Death"
(here simply titled
"Death"
). This rarity was reissued by the
Scenescof
label, with the addition of the bonus track
"Fafnir and the Knights,"
which originally appeared on the 1972 various-artists compilation
Us
on the
Village Thing
label. ~ Richie Unterberger