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Countless Branches Image
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12 Ratings

  • Summary: The latest full-length release for the British singer-songwriter was produced by Joshua Henry.
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. The Wire
    Mar 3, 2020
    90
    Countless Branches does nothing different, but seems to knock them all dead by virtue of its naked simplicity alone. Some of these tracks are scarcely crafted songs at all but simple musings, addressed to no one in particular, not even an inward self, just uttered over soft, slow piano chords. [Mar 2020, p.48]
  2. Jan 17, 2020
    90
    Countless Branches, perhaps due to its profound yet intimate vision as well as its craft, just may be Fay's masterpiece.
  3. 85
    This is one of those rare records were extra additions aren't just unnecessary; fine as they are, the fuller arrangements of some of these same songs included here as bonus tracks suggest that Fay has cooked up material of such elemental and fragile beauty that any additional noises could easily scare away the magic.
  4. Uncut
    Jan 14, 2020
    80
    It's a warmer interpretation of Fay's celebration of and concern for the state of the world than on 2015's icier Who IS The Sender? [Feb 2020, p.22]
  5. Q Magazine
    Jan 14, 2020
    80
    The minimalism only focuses the listener on his searching, spiritual lyrics and lovely, time-aged voice. [Feb 2020, p.111]
  6. Mojo
    Jan 14, 2020
    80
    Instead of meeting fire with ire, there's an attempt to provide calm, clarity, a space to contemplate what really matters. [Feb 2020, p.93]
  7. Jan 21, 2020
    60
    There’s a solid, heartening release to be found in Countless Branches. It’s a shame that Fay and Dead Oceans didn’t take the opportunity to tease it out.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 5
  2. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Feb 3, 2020
    10
    Another superb album both in the music and production. I have the vinyl De-lux version and it is a joy to listen to the high audio quality ofAnother superb album both in the music and production. I have the vinyl De-lux version and it is a joy to listen to the high audio quality of this record. The ten songs on the album are very good with a lot of space evident with minimal musicians used. The additional 7 songs on the De-lux version are bigger band versions of 4 songs from the album,two other 2 songs and a live studio version of At the Time of the Last Persecution.
    A classic.
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  2. Jan 25, 2020
    9
    Bill Fay's music is something truly special. The lyrics and compositions on this album are stripped down to the bones and it lets the power ofBill Fay's music is something truly special. The lyrics and compositions on this album are stripped down to the bones and it lets the power of his words take center stage, where they belong. Expand
  3. Jan 18, 2020
    8
    I can't believe that he released only two albums during the 1970s before his return this past decade of the 2010s. He is seriously underrated.I can't believe that he released only two albums during the 1970s before his return this past decade of the 2010s. He is seriously underrated. "Countless Branches" truly proves that, being one of the best folk albums I've heard in the last two years. It is a magnificently made albums, with very good and to-the-point production, given the folk genre's distinction, which is that it does not really depend on the production. In this album, Fay is frugal and his album is adorned with Doric simplicity. Hope he lives for many more years, to bless us with so fine folk music as this album. Expand
  4. Mar 22, 2020
    6
    ( 62/100 )

    Ausente de dirección, sin un concepto musical que realmente se pueda explorar y carente en intensidad que realmente pueda
    ( 62/100 )

    Ausente de dirección, sin un concepto musical que realmente se pueda explorar y carente en intensidad que realmente pueda atrapar y sostener al público. La brevedad de la música simplemente se estipula como una invisible decoración que acompaña a las letras que cuentan prácticamente nada sobre la vida, su ternura e inmediatez. No hay nada nuevo o importante que pueda ser rescatando en este álbum. Otros proyectos tocan los mismos temas con más preocupación, poética y creatividad interesante o entretenida.

    Absent of direction, with no musical concept that could be really explored and lacking of an intensity that can catch or keep the public. The briefness of the music simply shows itself as an invisible decoration that joins the lyrics that sings practically nothing about life, it's cuteness and immediacy. There is nothing new or relevant that can be rescued in this album. Other projects treat the same topics with more concern, poetic and interesting or entertaining creativity.
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