Folk Vinyl 250 Items

New Morning is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, originally released in 1970.

This is 180g vinyl.

Record Store Day 2020 Release.
Limitation: 5000 copies.

7″ single of Cat Stevens songBut I Might Die Tonightfrom the album Tea For The Tillerman. Side A will feature the alternative version of the song from the film Deep End. The A-side was reworked specifically for the film (which starred Jane Asher and somewhat a UK cult classic) and is a previously unreleased in any form! Colour of the 7″ Single is Light Blue.

A Svart Mondo release. Black vinyl, gatefold jacket.

First released by Britain’s then foremost folk label, Transatlantic Records in 1970, Storyteller’s first album is a forgotten gem of Psychedelic Folk Prog Rock. Warm and silky production courtesy of Andrew Bown and Peter Frampton, fabulous dual vocals and a wistful arrangement of top-drawer UK Folk Prog, make Storyteller a diamond worth digging into.

Around 1969, after being a part of the band The Other Two on Decca Records, working with people like Chuck Berry, Duane Eddy and Jerry Lee Lewis, and touring with Chuck Berry and The Animals, Caroline Attard joined a new band that was being formed; Storyteller. A quintet who followed their own inclination, ignoring current fashions and just doing what seemed to come naturally, Storyteller is a crate-digger’s delight. Up there with Fairport Convention, Jefferson Airplane and Steeleye Span, Storyteller were steeped in folklore tales such as on ‘Ballad Of The Three Laps’, bringing the true spirit of folk alive in their own unique way. With songs written primarily by Roger Moon, and Terry Durham as muse of inspiration with his paintings and wonderful Yorkshire stories, Storyteller’s debut has the authentic and honest vibe of the real McCoy.

No longer confined to being coveted by collectors and those in the know, this lush remastered reissue via Svart Records comes on gatefold vinyl with updated liner notes and interview. If you treasure Folk, Prog and Psychedelic Rock, make sure this is a tale you don’t miss out on!

When we talk about british folk revival we should not forget a key figure as Ian A. Anderson, a songwriter on its own and a truly prime mover in the local scene. Currently editor of the ‘world music magazine’ fRoots, Ian A. Anderson first performed in his home town of Weston-super-Mare as a member of the Backwater Jook Band and came to prominence as a member of the Bristol based country blues scene of the mid to late 1960s, performing live and on record, both solo, with Al Jones and Elliott Jackson as the trio Anderson Jones Jackson, and as a duo with ‘globetrotter’ and long time friend Mike Cooper. After two EPs, he recorded his first album, Stereo Death Breakdown, as Ian Anderson’s Country Blues Band, which was released by Liberty/United Artists in 1969. In December 1969, with John Turner, he conceived the record label The Village Thing, for which he was also a producer. The label released two dozen albums by mostly between 1970 and 1974 including influential albums by Wizz Jones, Sun Also Rises, Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra, Steve Tilston, Dave Evans, Lackey & Sweeney, Chris Thompson, Dave Peabody and more, as well as three by Anderson himself. ‘Royal York Crescent’ is proper solo debut was licensed the 13th of Novemebr 1970 and is still considered as a forerunner of the acid folk movement . His lightly fingerpicking was backed by bongos – Ian Turner – and bass/piano – John Turner – providing a dynamic effort for his spectacular lyricism. This long lost classic is finally backing in print for your necessary uplifting entertainment.

Such an elusive British artist, Christine Harwood was sailing the sea of lone folk singers with a sole album of rare beauty. Released in 1970 on small british label Birth, Nice To Meet Miss Christine is still an exercise in pure beauty, a dramatic/magic affair that materialized into thin air and suddenly was gone. Featuring a who’s who of the british prog and psych-folk scene – the late King Crimson alumni Ian McDonald on sax and flute, drummer extraordinaire Pete York, Nucleus and Jody Grind bass player Roger Sutton, Strawbs guitar player Dave Lambert – the album is more than a miraculous rendition of the (acid) folk revival venturing on more audacious territories, as shown in the rare groove of standout track Wooden Ships. Blue eyed soul and yacht rock fanatics take note !

Formed in the West Midlands manufacturing town of Coventry in 1968, esteemed psychedelic folk group Dando Shaft are revered as key influencers of the progressive strand of the 1960s folk revival, and the interplay of melodies on guitar, mandolin and violin made their sound distinctive, thanks to frontman Martin Jenkins, whose expressive vocals compliment his intricate lines, while Roger Bullen’s melodious bass helps to lubricate the proceedings. Recorded before Polly Bolton’s harmonic presence shifted the emphasis of their output, this masterwork is required listening for all progressive folk devotees.

The first ever LP reissue of this prime Buck that was available only in Norway for a brief time in 1970. At that time in the States, with the in-person London and Vegas albums released in such close proximity, Buck hardly needed any more live concert sets. Besides, Capitol, noting his rising status with Hee Haw, had flooded the U.S. market with a total of nine Buck albums from December 1969 to February 1971, including new studio albums and reissues of earlier albums. And that doesn’t even count the three Buckaroos solo albums that appeared in that same period.

An album whose depth and beauty is, nearly five decades on, still utterly staggering."- Mojo Released by the Kapp label in 1970 and produced by the Oscar-winning Leonard Rosenman, Parallelograms was the first and only album by American psychedelic folk singer Linda Perhacs until the release of The Soul of All Natural Things in 2014. Discouraged by the lack of commercial attention and the label's reluctance to promote the album, Perhacs returned to her career as a dental hygienist. In the 30 or so years that followed, this record gradually developed a cult following. Combining fragile and ethereal melodic acid folk with perfectly rendered electronic effects, Parallelograms consists of what Perhacs herself described as "visual music." The spotlight is placed clearly on Linda's guitar and voice, where echoes of Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez and even Grace Slick (lead singer of Jefferson Airplane) can be traced. As was common in his work, Rosenman's production ends up shaping a soundscape located somewhere between jazz, classical music and the avant-garde. All Music reviewer Richie Unterberger gave it 4 ½ out of 5 stars, stating that "Perhacs' cult favorite Parallelograms instantly evokes the spare and isolated feel of the songs and the production on Joni Mitchell's first albums. Perhacs is adept at dropping unusual effects and arrangements into the mix, that on occasion have a mildly disquieting and psychedelic vibe. Not all of the record is unusual, though; much of it's just attractively wistful, moody singer/songwriter folk, sometimes with an engaging folk-jazz backup, sometimes just with a guitar, sometimes enlivened by creative smudges of organ and electric guitar.

This incredibly rare release predates their more widely-known second album, Mice and Rats in the Loft. This is superb psych-folk dated 1969. The Jan Dukes De Grey started out as a duo of two multi-instrumentalists, Michael Bairstow and Derek Noy, who stood midway between Tyrannosaurus Rex and Jethro Tull with very short all-acoustic songs with strange lyrics. Similar to early Incredible String Band or Mark Fry, with a touch of Comus weirdness. A mixture of trippy and stoned songs and instrumentals with eastern feel. A unique album. One of the most brilliant acoustic experiments of folk-psych-prog rock ever.

Fotheringay is the self-titled album by the group formed by Sandy Denny after she left Fairport Convention in 1969, and was the group’s only contemporaneous release. It was recorded in 1970 with former Eclection member and Denny’s future husband Trevor Lucas, with Gerry Conway, Jerry Donahue, and Pat Donaldson. The album includes five Sandy Denny compositions (one of which was co-written with Lucas), one song by Lucas, as well as one traditional song and two cover versions: Bob Dylan’s “Too Much of Nothing” and Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Way I Feel”.

limited edition 180 gram vinyl

*Canadian singer/songwriter David Wiffen's 1971 self-titled album, originally released on Fantasy Records, is now reissued by 4 Men With Beards. The album is a showcase for David's rich baritone voice and his world weary, laid back songs. Standout tracks include the classic song "Driving Wheel" covered by Tom Rush, The Byrds, The Jayhawks, Roger McGuinn and The Cowboy Junkies among many others, plus the openly confessional "More Often Than Not" and "I've Got A Ticket." This is an underground folk/chamber pop classic reissued on 180-gram vinyl.

Mastered from the Original Master Tapes for Unsurpassed Analog Sound: Mobile Fidelity's 180g 45RPM 2LP Set Opens Up Scale of Lush Orchestral Architecture and Elegant Baroque Textures.

Judee Sill was an American singer and songwriter. She released two albums and partially completed a third album before her death in 1979. Sill encountered Graham Nash and David Crosby and toured with them for a time as their opening act, a year before the release of her eponymous debut album.

This reissue comes on 180g. Right Track is a specialized music label based in Beirut - Lebanon. As an IFPI certified member they are the exclusive Licensee and distributor of multiple international and regional labels in addition to a range of Lebanese Artists. From Omar Khorshid’s arabian-funk to Fairuz’s eerie songs, from Ziad Rabani’s proto-disco to lebanese traditional Wadih Al Safi compositions, Right Track is committed to re-releasing the Immortal Arabic music repertoire on 180 g vinyls, delivering the highest possible quality from remastered audio to satisfy the demanding audiophile connoisseurs.

Percussionist Frank Ricotti played in the National Youth Orchestra and was rated the UK’s top vibraphonist during the late 1960s. In 1971, with guitarist Mike de Albuquerque, he cut the multifaceted jazz album, First Wind, which alternated between experimental rock- influenced jazz and thoughtful adaptations of work by James Taylor, John Sebastian and Melanie Safka, with some surprising blues diversions too, such as Albuquerque’s “Go Out And Get It.” However, Albuquerque soon joined ELO as a bassist, putting an end to the duo.

Little we know about this long lost gem coming from the outskirts of the Commonwealth. But as far as we know, beautiness lies inside. That is the case of the sole album of mysterious australian band Extradition. Released in a small run on local independent label Sweet Peach in 1971, the self titled album stands as one of the most accurate acid folk rendition outside the UK realm. Formerly a three piece Extradition struggle on their personal behavior forging a rural set up that pursue the ‘think green’ revolution. It could be the English folk revival or the West Coast flower power, but the album introduce a different state of mind, far away from the chaotic suburbs of the counter culture. Lost on the isle, the acoustic set up of the band brings joy and happiness, a new age that reflects the multiple essence of the four elements. While the opener ‘ A Water Song’ brings to mind the course of a small river ‘A Love Song’ sets the mood for a long lost medieval folk tale. Acoustic guitar, small percussion, natural found sound and the celestial voice of Shayna Carlin (also member of cult band Tully, a weirdo surf-psychedelic affair) all of the elements above literally conjure for an ambient album before the definition was fully embraced by a massive audience.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the the- controversial album of Buck Owens, Don Rich and the rest of the Buckaroos doing countrified covers of Simon & Garfunkel, Donovon, and Dylan along with some originals. We shipped the original reels to Kevin Gray to do an all analog thing of sonic beauty. This is known as Buck's big thumbs-up to the folk-rock sound and it's time we celebrate it. All analog and on clear vinyl.

Born in Lower Egypt in 1929, Abdel Halim Hafez became, during a relatively short career that ended with his death in 1977 aged 48, one of the giants of Egyptian Music and his legend has never stopped growing since. Alongside Oum Kalthoum, Warda, Farid el Atrache and Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Hafez revolutionised Egyptian music and became a hugely popular star across the whole Arab world. Blessed with stricking good looks, Abdel Halim Hafez started his career in the early 50s and quickly attracted the attention of one of the Egyptian radio's A&Rs who took him under his wing and invited him to perform on the radio. His career went from strength to strength and from 1953, he was associated with the Egyptian revolution led by Nasser. His music mixing tradition and modernity made him one of the most loved singers of the 1950s as he developed a romantic edge that became his signature style (he was dubbed "the dark-skinned nightingale"). In the mid 50s, hot on the heels of his success in music, he launched his acting career in the thriving Egyptian film industry and also became a hugely popular actor. Hafez worked with the greatest composers of their time including Mohammed Abdel Wahab and Baligh Hamdy who composed ‘Mawood’ ("Promised.") Recorded live in 1971 (as it was the norm at the time. Singer would rarely record studio albums), 'Mawood' is one of the singer's most recognisable standards. The song stretches over the two sides of the album and consists of several sections alternating instrumental parts and sung ones. The song, written by Egyptian poet Mohamed Hamza, sees Hafez talking to his heart, apologizing for driving it from failure to failure and concluding that, to find solace, one must keep love at bay. He's backed by his full orchestra featuring traditional instrumentation and those powerful strings that influenced the likes of Jean-Claude Vannier, together with modern instrumentation including organ and electric guitar by Omar Khorshid adding his unmissable twang to the ensemble. 'Mawood' mixes tradition and modernity and develops into a hypnotic epic full of groove with a superb soulful performance by one of the greatest singers of the 20th century. An undisputed Arabic Music classic which Wewantsounds it delighted to reissue on vinyl for the first time since the 1970s.

Storyteller's two albums were released by Britain's then foremost folk label, Transatlantic, their eponymous debut LP in 1970, and their last will and testament, 'More Pages', in 1971. This Svart reissue of 'More Pages' comes after the successful reissue of the band's debut album last year, and this one is likewise restricted to 500 copies on black vinyl.

'More Pages' has been hard to find as a full album, because the Storyteller CD reissue consists of the full first album and only a portion of the second.

No longer confined to being coveted by collectors and those in the know, this lush remastered reissue via Svart Records comes on gatefold vinyl with updated liner notes and interview. If you treasure Folk, Prog and Psychedelic Rock, make sure this is a tale you don’t miss out on!

Another underground folk masterpiece back on the map. Forerunner of the british revival Ian A. Anderson licensed the album on his own The Village Thing on December 1971. Besides a couple of excellent cover- Black Uncle Remus penned by Loudon Wainwright III and a minor Bob Dylan classic as One Too Many Mornings – the album shows a more forward thinking production, with several bucolic progressive arrangements.

Dando Shaft’s self-titled sophomore set continued to build on the reputation established by their excellent debut, and now the arrival of female singer Polly Bolton added another textural dimension, as heard most clearly on the soaring ‘Riverboat,’ the absence of drums throughout allowing us to fully appreciate the players’ excellent musicianship, with Martin Jenkins’ masterful mandolin, flute and fiddle drawing the sound to higher realms. As it was issued on RCA’s prog sub-label Neon, which folded soon after its release, the LP is as rare as it is excellent—another must-have for fans of progressive folk and psychedelic folk rock.

Progressive folk act Comus was a true one-off, their unique take on folk rock a spine-tinglingly shocking one, even as the music draws the listener into singalongs. Formed by singer-guitarist Roger Wootton with some art school mates, including guitarist Glen Goring, violinist Colin Pearson and oboist Rob Young, Comus began recording their debut LP for RCA, who dropped them halfway through, leading to further recordings for Dawn with Barry Murray. Every song on this single bears the hallmark of their exceptional take on folk rock, too far ahead of its time to gain favour on release, and all the more to savour now.

Getting their start in the mid-1960s as a covers band, the Surrey-based group that began as The Late and who would be forced to take the name Unicorn mid-way through the recording of this excellent debut LP soon understood that originals made better sense, pointed in that direction by the success of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Given greater depth by Gerry Rafferty’s producer, Hugh Murphy, Uphill All The Way makes for superb listening, the musical craftsmanship yielding intricate textures beneath Ken Baker’s dreamy lyrics, the intelligent folk rock complete with country and western underpinnings. A must for UK folk rock fans!

Remastered and fully licensed. An underrated acid folk masterpiece brought to you by the classic couple Terry (guitar, mandolin, banjo) and Gay Woods (vocals), who formed the band after departing from the very influential british combo Steeleye Span. They recorded their debut album in 1971 on the small indie label Greenwich Gramophone Company. Think about the holy magic of the irish folk scene alongside some essential progressive rock scores.

This recorded autobiography of Catherine Howe, age 20, briefly appeared in 1971. Too young for memoirs, most artists have barely established any sort of musical competence by the age of legal adulthood, let alone compositions matching the maturity and complexity of Howe's. What A Beautiful Place, however, is a prodigious effort wrought from the melancholy ruminations of post-adolescence. The album's twelve songs unfold like a classic bildungsroman, beginning in the smoke-stained industrial county of Yorkshire, transformed by the electrified creative landscape of mid-century London, and retiring to the warm pastoral bliss of the county of Dorset on England's southern coast. Produced by noted jazz pianist Bobby Scott, the LP_oft-mistaken for a concept album_was available for only a month in the summer of 1971, disappearing after Reflection Records' shuttering in 1971.

Roy Rutanen’s self-titled album has remained a very well-kept secret among psychedelia and acid-folk collectors ever since its original release in 1971 on MCA in Australia. Now is the right time for Rutanen’s glorious music to shine through, with his unique combination of moody acoustic bliss and acid-drenched solos, as evidenced on ‘The Trip Song', a 10-minutes magnum opus that might well be a candidate for top 10 psychedelic tunes of all time! (Tell me too that ‘Plastic People’ doesn’t make you instantly think of Rodriguez). And like Rodriguez, despite the far flung nature of his record’s release, Rutanen is actually American. But during his time in Vietnam, Rutanen used two R&R periods to visit Australia. He liked it so much, he decided to fly straight back upon his discharge from the US Army. Rutanen's early recollections of Australia were of having good times, making many good friends: "I smoked a lot of pot and indulged in other highs,” Roy said. "I lived right on Manly Beach in Sydney and went to sleep at night with the sound of surf coming in through the open balcony doors.” He started putting his name about in the scene and playing his own songs at some local venues, which led to the album being recorded, and then more or less abandoned by MCA. What could have been the solid foundation for a promising career in the music industry was abandoned due to the lack of label support, subsequently surviving as a one-off release, accessible only to a select few who could afford the steep price ($650+) commanded for original copies.

Psychedelic, progressive folk-rock masterpiece from 1971, recorded in London by John St. Field aka Jackie Leven (of Doll by Doll fame) but only released in Spain back at the time. Before becoming a cult singer/songwriter in the 90s, Scottish musician Jackie Leven debuted in the early 70s with “Control”, issued under the John St. Field pseudonym due to “problems with the forces of law and order”. Recorded in London and helped by musicians from MAN and other friends (Phil Ryan, Juliet Lawson, Jesse Ballard, Joe Kucera…), the album featured a collection of wonderful songs written by Jackie after his experiences wandering away and taking copious amounts of LSD. Unlike previous reissues, this one features the complete tracklist in original running order and also a new insert with previously unseen photos / memorabilia and recollections from some of the musicians involved.

"It's dark and still in the chief's village protected by mountains of the great southern regions of Africa..." so begins the seventeen minute epic 'African Day' that kicks off the greatest Afro-psychedelic concept album ever made — first released on Parlophone in 1971. Hawk’s music on this epochal album is a fusion of tribal African rhythms with acoustic hippie music elements — long solo jams, saxophone breaks, percussion — sounding at times like an African version of Embryo fronted by Tim Buckley! In Johannesburg, bursting, like Durban, with musicians aeons ahead of their time, Hawk added the sunburnt, brown prairies of Africa to the genre of the concept album — the heady, steady beat of drums, and enough cross-rhythms to make you dizzy. Add the mesmerizing voices – and the telling of a story. Tuck in the ranging flute, the saxophone. The deep bass buzz. And the hypnotic talking drums. Music the African way: earthy stuff – virile, extraordinary, substantial. Hawk were listening to a lot of Hugh Tracey tapes (the Afro-musicologist who travelled Africa capturing sounds and music on tape for posterity). They went to Swaziland and came back with their own sounds: drums and a burning desire to make their own brand of African music. From all of this came "African Day.” Our Lion/RTA reissue comes with an LP-sized 12-page booklet which includes a complete band history by music writer Owen Coetzer, packed with photos, plus the story of the re-discovery of the multi-track master tapes and the transfer of those newfound tapes that resulted in this very reissue.

Formed in suburban Maidenhead by singer Tony Pook, guitarist/pianist Roy Apps and guitarist Robert Collins, Heron solidified when Collins was replaced by uitarist/mandolin player GT Moore. After a debut album recorded at the Pook family farm, specially priced double LP Twice As Nice And Half The Price achieved a fuller sound with guitarist Mike Cooper, bassist Mike Finesilver, drummer Terry Gittins and guitarist Willie Boazman. The epic set sounds absolutely brilliant from start to finish, with strong vocal harmonies, intricate guitar interplay and excellent musical communication. Arguably Heron at their absolute best!

Following their groundbreaking collaboration with the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Comme à la Radio, Areski and Brigitte Fontaine began recording almost exclusively together as a duo. Originally released in 1973, Je Ne Connais Pas Cet Homme is their first record billed under both names. Deeply rooted in North African and European folk traditions, the album features evocative vignettes with breezy vocals and minimal accompaniment of classical guitar, strings and woodwinds. As always, there is a mercurial quality to their lyrics. The title track (translated as “I Do Not Know This Man”) suggests at once Apostle Peter’s denial and a poetic acknowledgement. On “C’est Normal” Fontaine playfully questions the status quo while Areski offers satirical answers. What makes Je Ne Connais Pas Cet Homme one of their best-loved albums, though, is its remarkable sense of intimacy—as if Areski and Fontaine beckon listeners into their strange and beautiful world. This first-time domestic release continues Superior Viaduct’s reissue campaign of Fontaine’s classic ’70s catalog.

2021 Reissue, recorded in 1973. studio live session, 180g black vinyl in gatefold cover with 6 posters describing each track.

What a fantastic recording from a man and his band which is a real gem, haunting your soul in the first seconds (especially first track of B side “Alageyik Destani”). Cem Karaca is one of the leading vocal man and songwriter of Anatolian Rock scene, Mogollar (founded in 1967) is the first band which is the inventor of Anatolian Rock in Turkish rock music history. It offers amazing musical taste inspired by the traditional folk heritage of Turkiye. Strictly recommended.

The second album Judee Sill made, proved to be her last. Instead of using an outside arranger for the strings for her album Heart Food (as she did on her previous album Judee Sill [MOVLP1800]), Sill did all of the work herself.

“Out of the City” was recorded with all of the musicians at the same time in two short sessions at El Virrey studios; which said studio never believed El Polen’s LP would sell so they only released a limited edition of only one thousand copies. Three months later, there were no records in the market. Various musicians from El Polen were contacted in those times by travelers from different parts of the continent who came with the dream of finding a copy… it was not possible, even some of the musicians from the band didn’t have a copy. Today these are rare items still looked for by people from different parts of the planet.
The present edition in vinyl format has been produced from the master tapes with the authorization and supervision of the band itself. This is the starting point for a series of releases of a new collection of our label dedicated to El Polen.

Ultimate space-age exotica trip from Venezuela.
In the early 70s, well-known composer and arranger Chelique Sarabia (who penned the famous “Ansiedad” when he was just a kid) decided to register an album of traditional & folkloric songs from Venezuela but giving them a modern touch, using especially developed equipment (M.R.A.A.), based off of the principles of the Moog.
Chelique, helped by a team of gifted musicians, employed traditional instruments like the cuatro and the bandola llanera, filtering them through oscillators, playing with feedback, tape delay, synthesized frequencies, echoing sounds… The result was “Revolución Electrónica en Música Venezolana”, an album with a truly exotic, psychedelic, and ahead of its time sound.
Originally, the album was sponsored by the Shell Company in Venezuela, given away to customers, employees and friends of the company as a Christmas gift in 1973. It was titled “4 Fases del Cuatro - Música Venezolana desarrollada Electrónicamente por Chelique Sarabia” (“4 Phases of Four – Venezuelan Music Electronically Developed by Chelique Sarabia”). Once the exclusivity period with the petrol company was over, Chelique did a commercial release, this time under the name of “Revolución Electrónica en Música Venezolana” (“Electronic Revolution in Venezuelan Music”). Thanks to this, Chelique and his team were considered electronic music pioneers in Latin America.
“In the past five decades, there have been many attempts at modernizing the vast folkloric tradition of Venezuela, but nobody has reached the level of depth that CHELIQUE SARABIA did when he put his impeccable reputation as a composer and arranger at risk with this out-of-the-blue revolutionary musical manifesto in 1971. 47 years later, an album that remains ahead of its time.” - Alex Figueira (Fumaça Preta)

Canterbury-based progressive jazz-rock act Ben only released one obscure album, issued on Philips’ prog subsidiary Vertigo in 1971, but it’s a lovely collective of extended instrumental jams, worthy of discovery for those that missed it the first time around. Peter Davey’s saxophone and clarinet melodies push the material to high peaks, against an understated backing from future Nashville Teens bassist, Len Surtees and former Graham Bond drummer, David Sheen, keyboardist Alex Macleery and guitarist Gerry Reid adding flourishes at key moments. The songs “The Wooing Of The Child” and “The Wooing Of The Man” credit a certain K Jarrett as songwriter, making this rare beast all the more intriguing.