It doesn't do to get too wrapped up in the world of modern folk. Too many beards, too many grown adults riding strawberry unicorns into rainbow suns, too many Sufjan Stevens albums to keep up with. But, now and then, a record comes along which you can't ignore; a record which really does sound like waves of lysergic happiness lapping against your cerebral cortex. Like Adem, Manchester's Magic Arm, aka Marc Rigelsford, is a man digging for diamonds at the folk/electronica coalface. Outdoor Games is a stirring, deliciously woozy surge of a record. Even better, it is the only folk song left in the world that isn't being used on a mobile phone ad.

Tony Naylor
Guardian Guide (Posted on 10/12/2008)