Essex-based psych-folk trailblazers The Owl Service celebrate 20 years with a new career-spanning 2CD set.

The Owl Service started life in 2006 as a solo bedroom project for multi-instrumentalist Steven Collins, but it soon blossomed into a global collective with a rotating cast of singers and players that was as hard to keep up with as their sprawling discography. Apart from a brief alliance with Southern Records and a handful of releases on Static Caravan, Reverb Worship, and Fruits de Mer, they've been fully self-sufficient for their entire 20 year history, cementing their position as perennial alt. folk outsiders. 

The tracklisting here draws heavily from the band's early self-releases and compilation appearances, and also includes a selection of choice cuts from their 3 acclaimed studio albums. The story is brought right up to date with several tracks from the last 12 months, which have seen a prolific return to recording largely inspired by the arrival of new singers Dorothy Chappell and Rebecca Leivers. The album also includes 1 new and exclusive recording, a version of the traditional song Brigg Fair.

The music here shifts from fairly traditional folk, through faithful 1970s vintage folk-rock, to doom-laden folk-horror inspired psych-folk, all of it handled with an impeccable touch that's always respectful towards the band's many diverse influences.