If you hadn’t already guessed as much by the artwork that adorns the cover, Daniel McDonagh is in many ways a man out of time. Working in the construction industry by day, it’s by twilight that his true nature is revealed. Or at least that’s the impression one takes away from listening to the four songs which make up the quietly bewitching Toward Winter EP.

Now, for some people ‘folk’ can be a very prescriptive thing. It’s one of those words that seems to be loaded with images of bushy beards, maypoles, craft ale, wonky veg and woolly jumpers. Of course, as stereotypes go that’s a load of nonsense but it’s still worth noting that McDonagh is not operating in that world. Instead, these are songs that push at the boundaries of what a folk artist can sound like. Take the opening track, Restless, as an example: a rather addictive slow-groove that sprawls out for four minutes on a bed of swooping viola, Rhodes piano and a drum loop that calls to mind Portishead at their most laid-back. There’s also a kind of fog – a wooziness – in the air that puts me in mind of Pulp’s magnificent This Is Hardcore, which is no bad thing. On top of all this floats McDonagh’s soft and sultry vocal, which seems to hover just above the surface, with ghostly echoes lurking beneath.

Toward Winter itself is a more traditional arrangement that breezes by with a lilting acoustic guitar and a gently insistent kick drum underpinning the song. Instrumentally it’s quite wonderful, with an array of woodwind bubbling throughout and a real sense of warmth coming from the backing vocals. Lyrically, the song seems to tell an age-old tale of longing dressed up in striking imagery – “The frost has stilled / The blackbirds song / Dark flute of winter / Harbour spring inside your song”. There’s a timeless feel to this music, and it’s a mood that carries over into Vixen – a more stripped-back guitar-and-vocal affair with a particularly pretty instrumental final third.

Finishing the EP is Cathedral Bells. Much like the two tracks that precede it, it’s largely an organic-sounding affair. Built over a hypnotic and continually circling acoustic guitar motif, it also features some very effective subtle vocal manipulations and an array of atmospheric production touches. I really like the menacing strings that sneak into the mix too: gradually taking over the track (and occasionally adding a squeal of dissonance) before morphing neatly into the sound of tolling bells at its close.

All in all, Toward Winter is a strong EP. Rather than one larger concise statement, it’s very much a collection of individual songs. Having said that, I think the sequencing works well and there’s a logical flow that keeps you guessing. I also happen to think that the individual songs are rather good. To my ears there are moments that remind me of Thom Yorke, Neil Young, Jeff Tweedy and even some of Elliott Smith’s more serene output. McDonagh is planning to head back into the studio in September with a batch of songs to record a follow-up, and I’m looking forward to hearing what he returns with. This is luscious, moody and atmospheric folk music, and I am here for it.

---

You can find Daniel McDonagh on Bandcamp, Instagram and his website.