The Bitter Lay

Arch Garrison have sometimes been seen as Craig Fortnam's 'other band', his 'main' group being North Sea Radio Orchestra; the 'alternative chamber group' he started in 2002. NSRO have now released five albums but Craig has always returned to AG as a complimentary, yet refreshingly 'other' to the larger ensemble. Indeed, this is AG's third studio album (following 2010's 'King Of The Down' and 2014's 'I Will Be A Pilgrim'). Fans of Craig's music do not see much distinction between the two; both are melodically and harmonically rich with arrangements, counter melodies and instrumental sections aplenty. Whereas NSRO favours wind, strings, vibes and piano, AG is very much its smaller sibling with guitars, organ/piano, percussion, monosynth; and for this release the addition of melodeon and dulcitone by keyboard player James Larcombe.