Jeff Marsh @ Delusions of Adequacy
Use the word “folk” to describe music here in the states, and the most obvious connotations are likely artists Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. But use it across the sea, and our British friends are likely to have different comparisons altogether. The inherent nature of folk is that it’s rooted in old music that is completely the nature of the place where it began. And let’s face it, there’s been much more history in the UK to draw from in music than in the US.

As a solo artist, the UK’s Owen Tromans draws liberally from the folk music of his land. It’s evident not only in his soothing and rich voice and storytelling sensibilities but also in his song structures and acoustic-led foundation. Yet the singer/songwriter, who has led the post-rock band San Lorenzo and performed with the post-hardcore After Rome, quite clearly has plenty of modern aspirations to draw from as well. The result is an organic affair of classically oriented songs with an introspective and well-versed foundation.

That’s the feel of the first four songs on this limited-edition EP, at least. Tromans shows off his guitar skills on the classical instrumental “When There Was Speedway” and. “The Woodcutter Song” and “The Queen of the May” show the British folk influence to Tromans’ work, while “Circle” is representative of his more modern take on the singer/songwriter genre, and the mix of acoustic and electric guitars works brilliantly here.

The highlight of this EP, however, is the fifth track, the 12-minute “John’s on the Bridge,” a reprise of a song from Tromans’ last full-length, Place. On that album, the track was a meditative, introspective piece. Here it’s explosive, done in full-band, electric style, and it’s an amazing track. It’s loud and flowing, with breakdowns both subtle and fiery, and I could listen to it on repeat despite its length.

The ingenuity of a truly talented artist always comes out of his songs, and the voice of a true original can be heard on each of Tromans’ tracks here. More than a between-album tease, Your Heart is Not Broken is a snapshot of multiple sides to an amazing artist.



J-Sin @ Smother.net
One of my more favorite indie labels, Keep Recordings, releases this EP by Owen Tromans limiting the release to a mere 125 pressings packaged with a black and white photo and hand numbered by the artist. So damn do I feel lucky to have one in my dirty little hands. His voice is genuine and ranges from hollow melody to dynamic moodiness that somehow exudes from this lo-fi indie folk album as if it was dripping from a medicine drip next to a hospice bed. The 12-minute odyssey of “John’s On the Bridge” simply must be heard to be believed.



Phil Edwards @ Americana UK
San Lorenzo vocalist goes folk, and contemporary, but not necessarily at the same time. Owen Tromans is very 'British'. And he sounds it. Not that this is a bad thing; unless you like that sort of thing. What am I trying to say ? Scottish reels and foot stomping don't do it for everybody. Tromans is a man who has never allowed his music to be easily categorized, and this EP with its twiddly dee chords and lack of cohesiveness on some tracks fail to make any real impact. Half way through the first track I was looking for the fast forward button. Unfortunately it took me to the second track 'The Woodcutter'. It seems like Owen ran out of rhyme when he wrote the chorus, particularly when he wails "The Wood…….……cutter", long enough to keep pace with the beat. 'John's On The Bridge' is a re-working of the favourite live track from 'Place'. It builds into a wall of guitar cacophony but manages to prevent itself from straying too far into Neil Young 'Arc' territory. If this is a live fave then the rest of his set mustn't be up to much; but this track is very much a grower. One track stands out; 'Circle' is excellent. Probably because it doesn't sound British and manages to convey a uniqueness that the rest of the EP doesn't. Download it from iTunes if its available but avoid the rest. Not loaded onto my iPod and not helping to move forward English folk or British indie rock.