This Seattle trio is creating dark, sinister, trembling earth ballads that have echoes of country evenings and haunted memories. Almost reminiscent of the earliest, best freak folk sounds of bands like Wooden Wand & the Vanishing Voice, they would sound right at home on an Arthur comp in 2004 or around a Southwestern campfire in 1921. The shaker is everpresent, accompanying frontman Michael Sauder's low grumbles and moans and a low bass hum, with less frequent bursts of larger percussion. Geist & the Sacred Ensemble have been around since 2006, but their first full length is being released in an edition of 100 tapes by the excellent Seattle label Translinguistic Other. Listen below.
