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The Failing of the Strains

by The Low Countries

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1.
Prepare To Weep 02:03
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This tale it is twisted vile and depraved No sins I resisted no souls have I saved My fists are of iron, my heart is of coal My dreams are of ashes they burn in my soul How many secrets can one man keep? Prepare to weep Prepare to weep Prepare to weep I embraced all God’s creatures and played in the fields But a man has his limits, you reach it it yields Oh I loved all my neighbours, I prayed I could save Their souls from damnation and a shallow grave How many secrets can one man keep? Prepare to weep Prepare to weep Prepare to we……eeep Forced from this island found new shapes to mould I toiled and I laboured now I’m in from the cold How many secrets can one man keep? Prepare to weep Prepare to weep Prepare to wee….ep
2.
Handmaid's Blush 02:44
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Generations have come some have come and gone but this ones no longer needed no more Battered bruised undone, they’ll be all unsung, they’re rotten rancid to the core There’s a skin so smooth sweet and creamy white Flesh to touch and be shared Pair her off with our Lord oh you know I’m right The Handmaid’s Blush must be spared The Handmaid’s Blush must be spared They boast roots in our land they can’t flourish here the boats need filling before I return The young and the strong are all good for building, the old and the dead ones must be burned There’s a skin so smooth sweet and creamy white Flesh to touch and be shared Pair her off with our Lord oh you know I’m right The Handmaid’s Blush must be spared The Handmaid’s Blush must be spared There’s a skin so smooth sweet and creamy white Flesh to touch and be shared Pair her off with our Lord oh you know I’m right The Handmaid’s Blush must be spared The Handmaid’s Blush must be spared Generations have come some have come and gone but this ones no longer needed no more
3.
Potash Sea 01:21
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4.
Nature Nurture 02:46
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Come on nature nurture my soul Make me happy make me whole Come on nature do your thing Make us happy make us sing So it grows and so it shone Summerlong Come on nature we’re under your spell Make us wonder make us well Come on nature nurture my soul Make me happy make me whole So it grows and so it shone Summerlong summerlong…summerlong Come on nature nurture our souls Make us happy make us whole Come on nature do your thing Make us happy make us sing So it grows and so it shone Summerlong summerlong…summerlong
5.
Drone King 02:19
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6.
Woodfever 02:30
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7.
God's Got His Plans 06:24
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8.
Gatherdown 03:54
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about

This high concept album,- a soundtrack to an imaginary prequel to The Wicker Man - was originally released in 2008 via Nub Music and is finally available on Bandcamp, well worth the eleven year wait no?
One of our favourite albums for many reasons but mainly because it's drenched in the spirit of Wes Martin and our many happy times together, this is for you Wes.

Remastered with six bonus tracks and various photos, press releases etc, even a video!

"..if ‘The Failing Of The Strains’ had come before 'The Wicker Man', I would be describing it as an unnerving and eerie, but ultimately charming offering. Post 'The Wicker Man' I am left with split loyalties. High praise indeed" Pennyblackmusic

"..sweet, a little ray of hope, a small pot of gold at the end of a colourful musical rainbow. The Low Countries take folk music on and up a level and 'The Failing Of The Strains', although extremely short is very very cool!" Toxic Pete


From the 2008 press release:

"The Low Countries are a North-Country indie-folk trio comprising of: Wes Martin on banjo (“…from the loins of Doc Boggs”), guitar and mandolin;
Els D’hooge on (“…excellent north European) vocals and glockenspiel;
and Nigel Parrington on guitar, (“…John Martyn-like”) vocals, and harmonica.
Brought together by a common adoration of The Wicker Man and all things melodically sinister, they wanted to hear more in a similar vein. So, in the Spring of 2008, (whilst their sap was rising) they started creating their very own soundtrack to an imaginary prequel to The Wicker Man entitled ‘the failing of the strains’. Eight contemporary songs and instrumentals to accompany scenes and ideas for a film only exisiting in their heads…or does it? A cult classic."


I wrote a short piece about the album last year (2020) when it celebrated its 1O year anniversary, here it is:

"It's almost May Day and ten years since our second album 'The Failing Of The Strains' was released, so it seems a fitting time to talk about the album we made with Wes, all those years ago. Just this week I found a set-list (see photo), written by Wes, stuffed away in my electric guitar case and, as you can see, it's his unique take on some of the album's song titles. I couldn't for the life of me recall the 'arseholes' song...did I really write a bum song? It bugged me for days until this afternoon when it it suddenly became clear - 'Nature Nurture' - which contains the opening line "come on nature nurture our souls" - (sing it out loud, these days I use the singular version), we laughed a lot about that line, enunciation being the key ha ha.
I met Wes the year before, brought together by children's playgroups and free biscuits, sometimes we'd even take the kids. Eventually he revealed his love of playing banjo and should we jam together. see how it goes? A common love/obsession with The Wicker Man brought us even closer and spurred me on to pursue my idea for the album, which was recorded relatively quickly (looking back a tad too quickly) in April 2008.
Earlier that year we spent a hugely enjoyable long weekend in Dumfries and Galloway exploring the various filming locations and single malts, ending (of course) with us dragging our bewildered and protesting young kids along precarious windswept cliffs in search of the Wicker Man stumps, which we eventually found. All vital research.
The concept of 'an imaginary prequel' to the film and access to Els's old family photos gave us rich pickings for images and video ideas. Wes, being more technically minded than myself, helped me put together the 'Handmaid's Blush' video which, as the years pass, I love more and more. He also put together a film (which I can't find..) that was projected at our Gregson launch gig. Fruitful times. Wes, at the time an unsure songwriter, even put forward a piece of his own (Gatherdown) for the album which we all agreed would make a perfect end credits number for the non-existent film.
Nub Music were very supportive of the album, producing postcards and press releases, hell we even made badges. So thank you Wes, Nub, Scotland and The Wicker Man, it was a blast."

credits

released August 8, 2008

All songs by Nigel Parrington except track 8 by Wes Martin
Els D'hooge - vocals
Wes Martin - banjo, guitar
Nigel Parrington - vocals, guitars, bass, zither harp, piano, percussion

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The Low Countries UK

The Low Countries are the off-road vehicle for songwriter-singer Nigel Parrington. Nigel is currently performing with Els D'hooge in Belgium after enjoying a heady 5 year run of full band activity in the UK.

'indie-folk at its best...' Folk Radio UK

'Blissfully wonderful music' Beehive Candy

'They make literate, clever music that makes Belle and Sebastian look like a bunch of thugs' Popshifter ... more

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