the hazards of love have come early

decemberists have found time somehow between touring events to make their next cd: "hazards of love." they may be a portland ore band but i had a working hypothesis that they were fascinated with all things british

heres a rundown on their previous studio albums:

castaways and cutouts - ships, maritime themes...british navy

her majesty - doesnt get more british

picaresque - spanish for satirical prose(thats a curveball) but it means "realistically and often humorously the adventures of a low-born, roguish hero living by his/her wits in a corrupt society" hello oliver twist we are back in london

crane wife - not even a challenge, colonialism and absorbing cultures are english pastimes, and one of the inspirations- the folk tale 'the island' draws from the shakespeare's the tempest

hazards of love - ...


this is what the band says:

"The album began when Meloy—long fascinated by the British folk revival (AH HA!) of the 1960s—found a copy of revered vocalist Anne Briggs's 1966 EP, titled The Hazards of Love."


the press release continues:

"The Hazards of Love tells the tale of a woman named Margaret who is ravaged by a shape-shifting animal; her lover, William; a forest queen; and a cold-blooded, lascivious rake, who recounts with spine-tingling ease how he came 'to be living so easy and free...'"

colin meloy seems to be fascinated with the folk tale lately in his albums. crane wife- clandestine silk weaving, and now another shape shifter, woodland queens, and an evil rake. was colin listening to midlake's van occupanther before this album? are the decemberists going indie rock opera? the pre release album is making its rounds, here's a track:

isnt it a lovely night