VINYL FORMAT. Originally released on CD in 2008 on the Preservation label, and now available on vinyl for the first time, Marking Time might be the first release under Richard Skelton's own name, but it is far from the Lancashire, UK musician's debut recording. Using a plethora of creative monikers (A Broken Consort, Harlassan, Carousell, Landings, and more), Richard has slipped graciously into avant-garde folklore. Each gorgeous, hand-made record appears (usually on his own Sustain Release imprint) and then disappears in a matter of hours, leaving the baying hordes to spend their lives on Ebay and Discogs if they want to collect them all. Marking Time is available once again, and is the most perfect distillation of his sound universe. These short songs are deft and deeply touching musings on loss and on the importance of time. Comparisons could be made to plenty of Richard's modern-classical or avant-folk contemporaries, but few imbue their music with such a deep sense of humanity and patience. This is a haunting, affecting album which truly rewards those who give it the time it commands.