European Howl

Agent Starling is an unusual duo, a pairing of hurdy-gurdy player Quentin Budworth with Louise Duffy-Howard (aka Lou Loudhailer). Back in the 1980s, the latter was the bassist with one of my favourite indie bands, Red Guitars. Unable to pursue their usual musical projects due to lockdown restrictions, the two decided to create Agent Starling and record this, their debut album.

European Howl is a complex, immersive and at times disorienting listening experience. Opening track ‘Helicopter Arms’ sets the tone – pulsating, intriguing, the distinctive droning, buzzing but melodic sound of the hurdy-gurdy and whispered, spoken-word vocals (à la Traffic’s ‘Hole in My Shoe’). There are some traditional tunes – an agreeably ambient version of the Elizabethan carol ‘Drive the Cold Winter Away’ and a suitably inebriated-sounding ‘The Parting Glass’. By contrast, ‘Minor Surgery’ is a cyber-Morricone soundtrack with whipcrack noises and a splendid rumbling bassline. Throughout the album the contributions of guest violinist/cellist Dexter Duffy-Howard add a lot to the overall texture. The use of whispering vocals may be a bit overdone but, nevertheless, European Howl is an engaging and original debut.