<img class="alignleft" title="Boxharp" src="http://www.hiddenshoal.com/wp-content/uploads/boxharp.jpg" alt="" width="170" height="165" />Hidden Shoal Recordings has announced the digital pre-release of the album <a href="http://www.hiddenshoal.com/wp-content/uploads/index.php?main_page=product_info&amp;cPath=45&amp;products_id=142"><em>The Green</em></a> by American ambient experimental pop duo <a href="http://www.hiddenshoal.com/artists/boxharp/">Boxharp</a>.

<em>The Green</em> is a startlingly beautiful space that sees the intermingling of the ancient and modern, the handcrafted and the technologically enhanced. Lunar half-light, crackling fires and legends weave amid aching synths, dizzying digital edits and startling atmospheres – all clothed in the inimitable tones of vocalist Wendy Allen. Akin to classic dreampop, stripped of the guitars and rebuilt with the parts of old gramophones, twine and birdsong.

The title track exudes a kind of earthbound celestialism that makes it at once intimate and expansive. ‘Hick’s Farewell’ and ‘Leatherwing Bat’ have the feel of eerie Celtic folksongs re-imagined as affecting synthpop. Lovable pop nugget ‘Konnarock VA’ nestles alongside airy tapestries like ‘The Moon’s The North Wind’s Cookie’ and ‘Rootfires’. The intangible is rendered tactile; the prosaic mystical.

<em>“shows that experimental pop needn’t sacrifice the pop element to be interesting and original”</em> <strong>– Music Musings and Miscellany on the Loam Arcane EP</strong>

<em>“sparkling pure, like dancing snowflakes on a beautiful cold and sun-touched winter’s day. Harmonically waving between Allen’s pretty angelic voice, and the delightfully silvery ambient tones”</em><strong> – Luna Kafe on single ‘Rainbirds’</strong>

Boxharp recently featured in a January 2010 article in British newspaper The Guardian as one of David Bowie’s current favourite artists, and promptly received a full-page feature on Bowie’s official website.

<em>The Green</em> is now <a href="http://www.hiddenshoal.com/wp-content/uploads/index.php?main_page=product_info&amp;cPath=45&amp;products_id=142">available digitally through  Hidden Shoal</a> and all good digital stores. The album will see its official CD release on the 2nd of June, 2010. Download the album <a href="http://www.hiddenshoal.com/wp-content/uploads/index.php?main_page=product_info&amp;cPath=45&amp;products_id=142">here</a> and read a full press release <a href="http://www.hiddenshoal.com/publicity/press-releases/HSR_Press_Release-Boxharp_The_Green_Album.pdf">here</a>.

<a href="http://www.hiddenshoal.com/wp-content/uploads/Media/HSR_Radio/Boxharp/The_Green/Leatherwing_Bat.mp3">Boxharp - Leatherwing Bat</a> <em>Boxharp - Leatherwing Bat</em>