The Belbury Tales revisits the haunted, childlike folk-horror soundscapes that defined Belbury Poly's early work, with a focus on primitive synth melodies and ghostly vocal samples. It’s a return to the scene of the crime, if the crime was crafting unnerving ambient music for a dystopian village fête.
- Recorded in Juttla's home studio, The Belbury Tales was composed entirely on analogue equipment, including a Korg MS-20 and a Roland TR-606. The album features guest appearances from Broadcast's James Cargill and Stereolab's Laetitia Sadier. The vinyl release was limited to 500 hand-numbered copies.
- The album's title is a direct reference to the 1971 film "The Blood on Satan's Claw," which shares a similar pastoral horror theme. Photographer and filmmaker Pascal Blua shot the album's cover art, a slightly unsettling image of a rural landscape. The album was met with critical acclaim, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic yet futuristic sound.
- Belbury Poly's music has been described as hauntology, a genre that draws on nostalgia for pre-digital eras and the uncanny atmosphere of old media. The Belbury Tales has been cited as a key release in the genre, alongside works by The Caretaker and Broadcast. The album continues to be popular among fans of ambient and electronic music.
Belbury Poly is the electronic music project of Brighton-based graphic designer Jim Juttla. This 2012 release arrived midway through his career, after a string of well-regarded albums for the Ghost Box label.
Tracklist
