En Garde

En Garde is the debut full-length album from Isle of Wight-based artist Puzzle Muteson (Terry Muteson), released on the Bedroom Community label in 2011. The album is a significant collaboration within the label's tight-knit ecosystem, featuring production by Valgeir Sigurðsson and intricate string arrangements by Nico Muhly. This partnership elevates the music from simple indie folk to a sophisticated 'chamber folk' territory, characterized by a sharp, classical sensibility that avoids folk clichés. Muteson's primary instrument is his voice, which possesses a unique, rapid-fire vibrato that became his sonic signature. Lyrically, the album leans into surrealism and abstract imagery, with titles like 'Flamingo Head' and 'Brittle Beak' suggesting a fascination with the fragile and the avian. Upon release, it was praised for its distinctiveness and the high-caliber production that framed Muteson's vulnerable performances.