"This is one of only a few recent releases that might genuinely be called inspired. As a songwriter and musician B'eirth is easily the equal of psychedelic folk legends Robin Williamson (Incredible String Band) or the late Nick Drake. Comparisons to virtually any other musicians exploring similar territory would simply not do this justice." - Joshua Buckley for TYR Journal
"A unique synthesis of folk, mediaeval and psychedelia that could only be In Gowan Ring. Listening to this album is like sliding into a warm bath infused with oils and perfumes. Mellow and beautiful, B'eirth's gentle voice and music are a delight. The lyrics are obscure, but still suggestive and a source of inspiration and contemplation for those who make the effort to listen to them." -RIK for Flux Europa
"There is a depth to these songs that is revealed only upon repeated listens. It is this natural gift for creating multi-layered compositions that is so attractive about In Gowan Ring's work in general and Hazel Steps through a Weathered Home in particular. Quite simply, one of the half dozen or so best releases of the year." -Jeff Penczak for FakeJazz.com
"It's been worth the wait everyone. This album is B's best work, and my words, plain as the farmboy I am, can not do it justice. B', you've mastered the art of song my friend. My heart swells and my head swirls! I'm in awe." - Tim Renner, Some Dark Holler
"In Gowan Ring's "The Glinting Spade" is as beautiful as any psych-folk album can be without completely materializing. "Hazel Steps Through A Weathered Home" as a whole, is a more stripped down effort. However, that doesn't really diminish the album's preternatural feel. The songs are much starker and darker than on "The Glinting Spade", but they also have more gravity and substance. It can easily ensnare the unsuspecting listener in its magical folds."-J. M. for Opuszine
"The music of In Gowan Ring is rather timeless, archaic perhaps but not from a clearly-defined period. The lyrics are rather introspective but most images evoked by the texts are quite clear. The songs are really a pleasure to listen to and the album as a (very coherent) whole is very moving, solemn and melancholic, but it does not make me sad - I get the feeling that spring must be near... Really a recommended album." - HD for FunProx.com
"Very poetic release of intimate mystic songs, more minimal as earlier releases, sparsely arranged, towards the core of an essential expression. The album has the richness and calmness of an introspective vision. The style is minimal without being repetitive with a rich sound through its poetic vision. The whole album is beautiful and recommended." -Gerald for Van Hett PSYCH FOLK
____________________________
-Glinting Spade (1999)
Though arguably the best In Gowan Ring experience is live -- B'eirth plays the medieval troubadour quite well and mysteriously, but doesn't forget humor or the fact that the Industrial Revolution has in fact happened -- The Glinting Spade is quite a lovely listen indeed. Anyone captivated by folk that either consciously explores its very early roots or the acid folk approach that psychedelia let in will find something to like here; B'eirth's approach suggests Edward Ka-Spel as much as it does the mythical figure of Ossian, say. His generally acoustic bent is more carefully seasoned by low-key experimentation throughout The Glinting Spade -- extended tones, strange echoes, and buried sounds expand the palette of his work to an intriguing degree, with "In the Dream of the Queen" being an especially striking example. That said, the choice of instruments tends to be tried and true -- everything from church organ to zither is credited, along with more esoteric choices of fire, chalice, bow and arrow, even oats! Quite what the role of everything is meant to be is unclear, but if the effect is to create a sense of a shadowy ritual out of time past, In Gowan Ring succeeds quite well. B'eirth isn't one to shout or scream -- what's the point, after all? -- and his style of singing is very, very restrained, avoiding the sometimes tiresome drama of similarly minded revivalists who apparently think they really are about to summon up the Horned King and the Great Hunt. Songs like "To Thrum a Glassy Stem" and "Bow Star" are quiet beauties, while the lusher approach of "Cipher's String on the Tree" suggests a great lord's minstrels performing a late-night service. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide
_____________________
In Gowan Ring - From the land of little Osmonds, comes this nomadic bunch of sprites and pot-headed pixies, led by the enigmatic B'eirth and wielding such modern day contraptions as sackbut, cornetto, cittern, psaltry, zither, timbrel, whistles, bells, gongs and tons of other weird sounding shit too numerous to mention. Epic lengthed drones are nestled comfortably amidst some of the finest acid/psych/wyrdfolk on this (or any other) planet.
_____________________
-Exists & Entrances vol. 1
"Am I the only one here who has these moments where you've fallen asleep in the chair, and when you "wake up" you feel like you've got no control over your body but you can watch while your limbs move & haul you around the room and? Really? Well anyway that's what the finer moments of this disc feel like ... as the tree ears sprout from between my toes and I keep whispering, "it's only a cd-r, it's only a cd-r". "
_______________________________
"The songs have a somber feel, as though the innkeeper let the lyre player have a little too much mead, and now the whole room is treated to his many laments on nature and love." -Brainwashed
____________________________
"The American neo-hippies from In Gowan Ring produced a fragile and melodic atmosphere. Pantheistic odes to the forgotten beauty of nature – the great in the small. " -Medusa's Head
website
"A unique synthesis of folk, mediaeval and psychedelia that could only be In Gowan Ring. Listening to this album is like sliding into a warm bath infused with oils and perfumes. Mellow and beautiful, B'eirth's gentle voice and music are a delight. The lyrics are obscure, but still suggestive and a source of inspiration and contemplation for those who make the effort to listen to them." -RIK for Flux Europa
"There is a depth to these songs that is revealed only upon repeated listens. It is this natural gift for creating multi-layered compositions that is so attractive about In Gowan Ring's work in general and Hazel Steps through a Weathered Home in particular. Quite simply, one of the half dozen or so best releases of the year." -Jeff Penczak for FakeJazz.com
"It's been worth the wait everyone. This album is B's best work, and my words, plain as the farmboy I am, can not do it justice. B', you've mastered the art of song my friend. My heart swells and my head swirls! I'm in awe." - Tim Renner, Some Dark Holler
"In Gowan Ring's "The Glinting Spade" is as beautiful as any psych-folk album can be without completely materializing. "Hazel Steps Through A Weathered Home" as a whole, is a more stripped down effort. However, that doesn't really diminish the album's preternatural feel. The songs are much starker and darker than on "The Glinting Spade", but they also have more gravity and substance. It can easily ensnare the unsuspecting listener in its magical folds."-J. M. for Opuszine
"The music of In Gowan Ring is rather timeless, archaic perhaps but not from a clearly-defined period. The lyrics are rather introspective but most images evoked by the texts are quite clear. The songs are really a pleasure to listen to and the album as a (very coherent) whole is very moving, solemn and melancholic, but it does not make me sad - I get the feeling that spring must be near... Really a recommended album." - HD for FunProx.com
"Very poetic release of intimate mystic songs, more minimal as earlier releases, sparsely arranged, towards the core of an essential expression. The album has the richness and calmness of an introspective vision. The style is minimal without being repetitive with a rich sound through its poetic vision. The whole album is beautiful and recommended." -Gerald for Van Hett PSYCH FOLK
____________________________
-Glinting Spade (1999)
Though arguably the best In Gowan Ring experience is live -- B'eirth plays the medieval troubadour quite well and mysteriously, but doesn't forget humor or the fact that the Industrial Revolution has in fact happened -- The Glinting Spade is quite a lovely listen indeed. Anyone captivated by folk that either consciously explores its very early roots or the acid folk approach that psychedelia let in will find something to like here; B'eirth's approach suggests Edward Ka-Spel as much as it does the mythical figure of Ossian, say. His generally acoustic bent is more carefully seasoned by low-key experimentation throughout The Glinting Spade -- extended tones, strange echoes, and buried sounds expand the palette of his work to an intriguing degree, with "In the Dream of the Queen" being an especially striking example. That said, the choice of instruments tends to be tried and true -- everything from church organ to zither is credited, along with more esoteric choices of fire, chalice, bow and arrow, even oats! Quite what the role of everything is meant to be is unclear, but if the effect is to create a sense of a shadowy ritual out of time past, In Gowan Ring succeeds quite well. B'eirth isn't one to shout or scream -- what's the point, after all? -- and his style of singing is very, very restrained, avoiding the sometimes tiresome drama of similarly minded revivalists who apparently think they really are about to summon up the Horned King and the Great Hunt. Songs like "To Thrum a Glassy Stem" and "Bow Star" are quiet beauties, while the lusher approach of "Cipher's String on the Tree" suggests a great lord's minstrels performing a late-night service. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide
_____________________
In Gowan Ring - From the land of little Osmonds, comes this nomadic bunch of sprites and pot-headed pixies, led by the enigmatic B'eirth and wielding such modern day contraptions as sackbut, cornetto, cittern, psaltry, zither, timbrel, whistles, bells, gongs and tons of other weird sounding shit too numerous to mention. Epic lengthed drones are nestled comfortably amidst some of the finest acid/psych/wyrdfolk on this (or any other) planet.
_____________________
-Exists & Entrances vol. 1
"Am I the only one here who has these moments where you've fallen asleep in the chair, and when you "wake up" you feel like you've got no control over your body but you can watch while your limbs move & haul you around the room and? Really? Well anyway that's what the finer moments of this disc feel like ... as the tree ears sprout from between my toes and I keep whispering, "it's only a cd-r, it's only a cd-r". "
_______________________________
"The songs have a somber feel, as though the innkeeper let the lyre player have a little too much mead, and now the whole room is treated to his many laments on nature and love." -Brainwashed
____________________________
"The American neo-hippies from In Gowan Ring produced a fragile and melodic atmosphere. Pantheistic odes to the forgotten beauty of nature – the great in the small. " -Medusa's Head
website
"the seer and the seen"