The next spotlight in our new “II Much II Listen II” series is number 674 in The List, submitted by platenworm.

Idyll Swords is/was a trio of guitarists – Dave Brylawski, Chuck Johnson, and Grant Tennille – who put out a trio of releases, each featuring WAY more than a trio of styles. On each album, the band plays a variety of stringed (and percussion) instruments from around the globe and the sounds that go along with them – such as American blues on an acoustic slide guitar, Turkish folk-inspired sounds from the bağlama, and Hindustani raga-inspired tracks on the oud – interspersed with field recordings and a few indie folk-type vocals. Each release is a chill yet whirlwind world tour in an hour or less.

And so, as we ask in this series, how does II connect to the first self-titled Idyll Swords? As far as I can tell, the trio just went with the numbering system, seeing as the third release in their discography (an EP) is titled III. I personally prefer II to the first album, but mostly because II is longer. At the end of each Idyll Swords track, I’m left wanting more – the stops along the way are just simply too short.

My recommendation? Listen to both the self-titled album and II, and then follow that up with their final release, III, for good measure.

• Songlink: Idyll Swords – II
• Discogs: Idyll Swords – II
• Songlink: Idyll Swords (self-titled)
• Discogs: Idyll Swords (self-titled)

https://1001otheralbums.com/2024/06/25/ii-much-ii-listen-ii-idyll-swords-ii-2000-us/

#1001OtherAlbums #2000s #folk #IdyllSwords #IIMuchIIListenII

III EP from #IdyllSwords on #ThreeLobedRecordings 2002

https://threelobed.bandcamp.com/album/idyll-swords-iii