If you want to discover Yorkshire by foot you best throw away your maps and GPS device. Simply put on Craven Faults and let him guide you to the horizon. 

We have been stuck in a void of down tempo music since we last heard from the Boards of Canada. Tomorrow’s Harvest (2013) and earlier works are on heavy rotation for over a decade now while there are no signs a new album is at hand. Of course we were on the lookout for something or someone to step in but the shoes the Scottish duo knocked about were simply too big to fill. That is until Craven Faults started to ship “parcels”, or separate songs, through Bandcamp in 2019. These parcels and the Low Fold Works EP’s eventually led to the superb debut album Erratics & Unconformities (2020) which we stupidly discovered too late for our annual rankings. Standers is Craven Faults’ sophomore so get ready for a new analog electronic journey across post-industrial Yorkshire.

Since this is the first time we mention Craven Faults on this site, some introducing words of this producer/musician are in place. Firstly we can’t connect his handle to a real name and secondly we also can’t exactly pinpoint his whereabouts. Anonymity therefore is something the artist values. Nevertheless we do know through his artist name, song titles, photography and few interviews “mister Faults” is fascinated by the landscape of Yorkshire. As a geological concept a Craven Fault is a major crustal fracture that spans the upland backbone of England’s North that once was heavily industrialised. Somewhere in Yorkshire there is a textile mill that serves as Craven Faults homebase. Instead of textiles the mill now produces modular synth explorations that are closely connected to the natural and cultural history of Northern England. Erratics & Unconformities is viewed by the artist as an musical hiking guide that brings listeners deep into the rugged and wild terrain of Yorkshire.       

Standers blazes a new path through England’s uplands. This path however can’t be solely followed by listening to the mesmerising music. Together with some personal thoughts about his wanderings throughout the Pennine hills, Craven Faults’ once again accompanies this release with a book with self made photos of Yorkish landscapes. Now, let’s go outdoors. 

On the first track, Hurrocstanes, Craven Faults directly leaves his calling card. In 16 minutes we are treated to some slow building, hypnotising techno that’s minimalistic folded around low toned sounds. The pulses that are used in the opener flow forth in the much shorter Severals. Due to the 4-minute playtime this track feels more urgent than opener Hurrocstanes and therefore seems to stand apart from what’s to come. Nevertheless Craven Faults demonstrates he’s not only about creating deep meditative sounds but also can shift to kraut-infused dancefloor minimalism as we heard before on the 2020 mini-album Enclosures.    

From here we dive full into Standers sentimental nature. On Meers & Hushes cleverly crafted synths and harmonies are placed within a diminishing rhythm. As it progresses we can’t escape a lingering feeling of discomfort. Is there severe storm brooding above the Yorkish hills? If so, Craven Faults pulls us above the weather at the end of the track with some light synths and thus brings an almost divine moment of relief. Then comes the 18 minute Sun Vein Strings, which for us is the album’s centrepiece. Hypnotic, danceable rhythms loops are manipulated over and over again and here and there are intertwined with shards of psychedelia. Sun Vein Strings also seamlessly evolves from the preceding tracks and serves as a gateway to the closing tracks Idols & Altars and Odda Delf. On Idols & Altars the use of an electronic piano unfolds into reverberating melody and synthesiser progression. Compared to Sun Vein Strings the sonic shift here is remarkable. The album concludes with Odda Delf that paradoxically was the first thing we heard as it was used as the first teaser for Standers but now serves as a fitting ending to a most wonderful imaginary hike through Yorkshire. In a quietly unsettling way a certain emotional resonance is placed into the listener’s heart by which you will certainly come to a full stop. 

If 70 minutes of Craven Faults is not enough, you will be happy to know that people that ordered Standers via Bandcamp also get access to the 75 minutes (!) bonus track May Birching. Fortunately for us this elusive composition is not part of the official release, so we leave it up to you to form an opinion about this whopping gift.

To sum up, Standers offers an immersive physical and musical experience. Craven Faults’ thoughts, available for reading on Bandcamp, and photo’s combined with his outstanding analog synth outings offer an intriguing take on the natural and industrial history of Yorkshire. It’s so to say the complete package for those who are interested in a distinct perspective of geography and also for those who were craving for further artistic enrichment in the down tempo music scene.

Label: Leaf, 2023

Buy it here: https://cravenfaults.ffm.to/standers.OWE

Tracklist:

1. Hurrocstanes (16:32)
2. Severals (4:14)
3. Meers & Hushes (12:21)
4. Sun Vein Strings (18:18)
5. Idols & Altars (7:07)
6. Odda Delf (10:06)

Review by Wander Meulemans // 290523