First Utterance (studio album) by Comus

An interesting album that keeps the music fresh from song to song by slightly altering their style so that we have a lot to explore. The themes on this record are dark and unsettling making for an uneasy but intriguing experience. Lyrically, it is very strong and looking into the words really makes your listen even more unsettling as you see what they are singing about. This tension is then built upon by a clever use of instruments that create a dark atmosphere. Two example of this are the use of the flute and violin which are two very beautiful and delicate sounding instruments but they manipulate them and surround them with harsh tones to make them sound ominous and creepy. Both the violin and flute are displayed at their best on the track Song To Comus where they really shine. We are also treated to a fantastic assortment of guitars which make up the bulk of the sound and they really dominate the music. However, some songs do feel unnecessarily elongated and the record could do with a bit of trimming down in my opinion. Overall, a fantastic prog folk album that is extremely unique and well worth a listen if you enjoy dark experiences.

Quirky pastoral spooky music. Great sound, some lovely moments.

A unique experience. Everyone should give this a try.

From teague 07/21/2020 21:19

Offbeat and dense. Lovely arrangements and performances. It is a bit long winded and self important at times, but overall a pretty fantastic listen.

One of the best progressive rock albums and one of the best folk albums of all time. And a personal favorite of mine, complex instrumentation with every song offering something new to contributes to the album experience. This album needs to be ranked higher overall it is an absolute masterpiece.

I confess that I've listened to First Utterance all the way through only once, but for the last month I've been completely and utterly obsessed with track 2 - The Herald. The song became one of my favorites in any genre. If fairies, pixies, or muses existed, this is what they must sound like. Bobbie Watson creates ethereal harmonies and when the chorus breaks out, it's peak psilocybin experience. I've just returned from the Boaty Weekender festival and had been talking about and playing the song to anyone who would listen, including band members who have not heard of it, and shall remain nameless.

From Sandinistar 02/08/2019 00:29

I appreciate this on every level, it's just way too dark for me to listen to it regularly.

When people ask me what the darkest album I've heard is, this is the one that jumps to answer. Listening to this album is like stumbling through some neglected ancient woodlands to come across an evil and archaic pagan ritual. The lead singer sounds demented, the instrumentation and arrangements angular and jarring, made all the creepier by the innocent female vocals. Truly unique - investigate if you're feeling brave.

I don't even know what to say about this masterpiece, honestly. It's so strange that it sounds satanic, demented, and evil. It's got elements of progressive rock and folk mixed together with some elements of metal as well. It's really just stunning. Everything from the high-pitched voices to the viola that doesn't fit make this record so dark yet perfect. It's like running through a peaceful, calm field in pain and agony.

"First Utterance" is the first Comus album I've listened to, and among the first album of its genre - another being The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter by The Incredible String Band. However, whereas the songs from that album were lighthearted and quirky, this album delves into serious themes of violence and abuse toward a vulnerable innocent. Both within the songs, and throughout the album, there is an intertwined story that can be followed along, matched with sporadic shifts in musicality within a single song (I guess, this is what I should expect from the progressive genre). This is an odd, and captivating, album.
My two favourites are "The Herald" and "The Bite".