Wednesday, November 25, 2020

My Highest Rated 21st Century Prog Folk Albums

I am by no means an expert, but Prog Folk, in its many forms (Pagan Folk, Chamber Folk, Folk Rock, Norse Folk, Mediæval Folk, Folk Baroque, et al.), has become one of my three or four favorite sub-genres of Progressive Rock music. Guided by my "objective" metric ratings system, here are my top-rated Prog Folk albums of the 21st Century.


THE MASTERPIECES:
1. CORDE OBLIQUE A Hail of Bitter Almonds (2011) - 94.50
2. TIRILL Said the Sun to the Moon (2019) - 9.44
3. FAUN Renaissance (2005) - 94.44
4. THE AMAZING Gentle Stream (2011) - 94.375
5. MICE ON STILTS Hope for a Mourning (2016) - 94.35
6. FAUN Eden (2011) - 94.0
7. MIDLAKE Antiphon (2013) - 94.0 
8. TIRILL Um Himinjǫður (2013) - 93.33
9. FAUNS Awaiting the Sun (2011) - 92.61




THE MINOR MASTERPIECES:
CORDE OBLIQUE The Stones of Naples (2009) - 92.50
CORDE OBLIQUE Per le strade ripetute (2013) - 92.39
NORTH SEA RADIO ORCHESTRA I a Moon (2011) - 92.38
JACK 'O THE CLOCK Repetitions of the Old City - I (2016) - 92.32 
IVAR BJØRNSON & EINAR SELVIK Hugsjá (2018) - 92.0
AALTO Ikaro (2014) - 91.82
RICHARD WILEMAN Veil (2018) - 91.74
IONA Open Sky (2000) - 91.55
ESPERS II (2006) - 91.25
ILL WICKER Untamed (2016) - 91.05
CICCADA The Finest of Miracles (2015) - 90.95
IONA The Circling Hour (2006) - 90.90
MOULETTES The Bear's Revenge (2012) - 90.80
DEAD CAN DANCE Dionysus (2018) - 90.67
STEVE UNRUH Precipice (2019) - 90.26
THORK Nula Jedan (2007) - 90.19
FAUN Luna (2014) - 90.0
USVA Uoma (2006) - 90.0


EXCELLENT PROG FOLK RELEASES:
DEAD CAN DANCE Anastasia (2012) - 89.76
MOULETTES Moulettes (2010) - 89.35
GADI CAPLAN Morning Sun (2016) - 89.09
MEDIAEVAL BAEBES Mirabilis (2005) - 88.89
ATARAXIA Llyr (2008) - 88.89
CORDE OBLIQUE Volontà D'Arte (2007) - 88.89
CORDE OBLIQUE The Moon Is a Dry Bone (2020) - 88.81
CHARLIE CAWOOD Blurring Into Motion (2019) - 88.70
THE FLOOD Chamber Music (2018) - 88.65
GRAVENHURST The Ghost in the Daylight (2012) - 88.33
FAUN Licht (2003) - 88.18
KOSMOS Salattu Maailma (2013) - 88.125
AMAROK Quentadharkën (2004) - 88.1
VIIMA Ajatuksia Maailman Laidalta (2006) - 88.0
TIRILL Nine and Fifty Swans (2011) - 87.94
JACK O'THE CLOCK Repetitions of The Old City, II (2018) - 87.69
MIDLAKE Trials of Van Occupanther (2006) - 87.27
CICCADA A Child in the Mirror (2010) - 87.0 
THE DECEMBERISTS The Crane Wife (2006) - 87.0
CHARLIE CAWOOD The Divine Abstract (2017) - 86.75
GIAN CASTELLO Taliesin (1999) - 86.67
FAUN Zaubersprüche (2002) - 86.67


VERY GOOD PROG FOLK ALBUMS
RITUAL The Hemulic Voluntary Band (2007) - 86.5
JUDY DYBLE Talking With Strangers (2009) - 86.32
BEDEDEUM Brevistele (2002) - 8.75 
WILLOWGLASS Willowglass (2005) - 86.25
FAUN Totem (2007) - 85.5 
LEAFBLADE The Kiss Between Spirit and Flesh (2013) - 85.45
ILL WICKER Diana (2014) - 85.0
AUTUMN CHORUS The Village to the Vale (2011) - 84.29
LUNAR CAPE Lunar Folk Tales - 84.375
ABEL GANZ Abel Ganz  (2014) = 83.695
FAUN Midgard (2016) - 83.5
BEDEDEUM Oltre Il Sipario (2008) - 83.5 


3.5 STAR ALBUMS

WILLOWGLASS Dream Harbour (2013) - 82.86
WILLOWGLASS Book of Hours (2008) - 81.84
THE DECEMBERISTS The Hazards of Love (2009) - 3.5 stars
KOSMOS Ajan peili (2019) - 3.5 stars


2.5 STAR ALBUMS

THE KENTISH SPIRES The Last Harvest (2018) - 79.38
AUTUMN WHISPERS Cry of Dereliction, Vol. II (2013) = 78.75
THE MERLIN BIRD Chapter and Verse (2014) - 78.26

POOR PROG FOLK ALBUMS

RHYS MARSH & THE AUTUMN GHOST The Blue Hour (2012) - 2 stars




As-Yet Unrated:
BEDEDEUM Oltre Il Sipario (2008) 
THE KENTISH SPIRES Sprezzatura (2019)
WOVEN HAND Mosaic (2006)
IONA Another Realm (2011) 3.5 stars
TIRILL A Dance with the Shadows (2003)
FAUNS Leaf Fall (2007)
TENHI Saivo (2011)
THE DECEMBERISTS Picaresque (2005)
THE DECEMBERISTS Castaways and Cutouts (2002)
MOSTLY AUTUMN The Last Bright Light (2001)
CAMELIA'S GARDEN  You Have a Chance (2013)
DANDELION CHARM Maybe Dreamers
JACK O' THE CLOCK All My Friends (2013)
MOULETTES Constellations (2014)
ESPERS Espers (2004)
JUDY DYBLE Enchanted Garden (2001/4)
FLAIRCK Symphony for the Old World (2000)
MOTIS L'Homme-Loup (2007)
LEAFBLADE Beyond, Beyond (2009)
FUCHSIA II From Psychedelia ... to a Distant Place (2013)
FAVERAVOLA La contea dei cento castagni (2006)
MESSENGER Illusory Blues (2014)
SCARLET THREAD Valheista Kaunein (2006)
VOX VULGARIS The Shape of Medieval Music to Come (2003)
COMUS Out of the Coma (2012) - 8.67
NORTH SEA RADIO ORCHESTRA Dronne (2018) -  




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