Umm ... Drop

Fern Knight

by Doug Wallen

All Philly transplants should have the work ethic of Margaret Wienk. She arrived from upstate New York two years ago towing the woodsy recording project Fern Knight, and practically overnight she was collaborating with Espers guru Greg Weeks on Music for Witches and Alchemists, the follow-up to her little-heard debut Seven Years of Severed Limbs. Music came out on the Virginia label VHF—progenitor of such spacey fare as Doldrums, Pelt and Flying Saucer Attack—and Fern Knight fit just fine into Espers’ extended family.

Wienk is about to see her self-titled third album released on VHF, and again it feels like an event. Produced by Wienk, it was recorded on analog tape at Greg Weeks’ studio and mixed by Brian McTear. The infamous Lord Whimsy penned the liner notes, and the CD packaging is presented in a deluxe LP-inspired gatefold made with recycled paper and soy-based inks. Wienk even secured a record release show with the experimental French musician Colleen at University City’s respected International House.

Along the way Fern Knight grew into a road-tested quartet that includes bassist/harpist Jesse Sparhawk, guitarist/percussionist Jim Ayre and violinist James Wolf. Wienk plays guitar and cello, and leads the band with her folk- inspired singing and psych-tinged, pastoral lyrics. Weeks may not contribute the “acid leads” he did on the last album, but Fern Knight’s gentle musings are nonetheless spiked with some surreal creepiness, from the wavering opener “Bemused” to the three-part closer “Magpie Suite: Part III.”

Newcomers may be reminded of the similarly elfin Joanna Newsom or even put off by the medieval vibe, but if anything, Fern Knight has grown more unique and palatable with this record. And there remains something happily hypnotic about Wienk’s delivery that makes time slip by almost without us noticing.

Sun., May 18, 8pm. $8-$10. With Colleen. International House, 3701 Chestnut St. 215.387.5125. www.ihousephilly.org