Last year How Snakes Eat by Mathew Sawyer & The Ghosts was one of our favourite albums – a quirkily brilliant expedition into idiosyncratic folk of the most original kind where the vision and inspiration seemed almost otherworldly.

Back then we said, “Quivering, quavering vocals, violins, a throbbing cello, guitars that flit from the minimal to the staccato and all overlaid with some of the most surreal (and entertaining) lyrics we’ve heard all year. There is a sly, knowing humour to the songs as well as regret, bitterness and a healthy dose of the macabre. Mathew Sawyer is simply one of those rare individuals who sees things differently from the rest of us and can turn it into musical gold.”

Now the wonderful Fire Records will be properly releasing this most British of albums in the USA (officially out today), and for anyone who has ever succumbed to the charms of pre-Floyd Syd Barrett then this record is a must. We’ve posted Mynah Birds Call previously, but now we also have the superb Revenge Of The Extra From Zulu – unquestionably one of the best songs of 2010.

Visit their MySpace here.

Visit their website here.

In the UK you can still buy How Snakes Eat from Amazon here.

Download Mathew Sawyer & The Ghosts – Mynah Birds Call mp3 (from How Snakes Eat)

Download Mathew Sawyer & The Ghosts – Revenge of The Extra From Zulu mp3 (from How Snakes Eat)