Long-time A Future in Noise favourite Jakob Battick (see also Mt. Moon - A Burial in Seven Births and Jakob Battick - Some Songs in Chronological Order) has a new release, Hiding in the Orchard, including three original tracks and a cover of Nico song “Afraid”. Accurately described as “a soundtrack for nighttime celestial voyages, all swimming through the stars and dozing”, “Afraid”, from Nico’s classic Desertshore, is as moving as, perhaps more so than, the original. Hazy and dreamlike “Sister Song” is next, immediately showing a profound growth in the musical and emotive depth in his work, and “As Before, If Not More” is wrought with a powerful, haunting melancholy which is exceptional. The EP closes with a new, definitive version of “It’s a Grace (Only Bodies Can Impart)”, stretching across oceans of thoughtfully crafted sound in 8 minutes. As impressive as Hiding in the Orchard is as an EP, I can only expect further greatness from a future full-length release.

Jakob Battick on MySpace Music