It's me, wistfully wrapping myself in a chunky sweater
I’ve made no secret that I loved folklore. It’s the kind of music/album that I love to listen to ad nauseam while I do everything from knitting to sipping tea in front of a window (two things I don’t do often, but love to do MINDFULLY to this album). Also, not to toot my own horn, but I did JUST tweet this, about 5 seconds after I went on Spotify and saw that Taylor Swift uploaded a new version of folklore, the long pond studio sessions.
This drop came with two “discs”, the original version featuring the bonus track the lakes, and a new version of the album. Thought I wouldn’t call this version exactly “new”, I would say it’s a “rustic” recut. For someone that is really good at reorchestrating her songs. I still think about the BBC Radio 1 live lounge version on Love Story (if you haven’t heard it, you’re welcome).
But the angle she took for this new version was more of a doubling down on the albums aesthetic. It’s raw, unkempt production allow for a more vulnerable Taylor. A lot of the instrumental is stripped down to its barest form. She doesn’t change the core elements of most of the albums songs, just recontextualize them.
Though there are some bigger sweeping changes on certain songs. my tears ricochet becomes a softer, more delicate piano ballad; mirrorball and this is me trying get an added intro swell akin to something a long the lines of Four Tet or the xx; illicit affair and invisible strings gets a pluckier, brighter guitar texture. I wish she made more of these changes to the rest of the album, as the track that are altered stand out.
This version also provides a more concert like experience, as I’m just she just tracked this all at once, and did a few pick ups wherever needed. I’m not a huge concert goer anymore, because I’m only and took too much Molly at warehouse parties in my early 20’s to ever be in crowded spaces with blaring lights and thumping bass. That being said, I’m glad that I get to be my old man self, sit in a frilly armchair with a scarf and cocoa, and listen to this through a warm vinyl filter with a longing smile.
While this version isn’t exactly was expecting, I’m not one to turn away more of Ms Swift. Though I don’t identify as a “Swifty”, she’s always managed to creep up to number one in my Spotify recap of “most played artists”. This year, between folkore in all it’s many versions, is no exception. But I believe this long pond studio sessions to be the definitive version. It’s a lot more sonically interesting while still allowing the song writing to flourish. And what is Taylor Swift if not one of the greatest song writers of our generation!!!
Anyways, I’m now ready for the second lockdown with this album.