Rating: 5/5
Review:
Fantastic
I think this is fantastic.
You'd expect it from this line-up, of course – and they really have
created something special, I think. Ten
of the finest folk musicians in Scotland
and England
today have collaborated on this album of traditional and co-written modern folk
songs. They are all women, but they
don't need the qualification "ten of the finest female folk
musicians" – they are among the best we have and that's that.
The result is a fabulous album of superbly performed
music. There's great instrumental work
and magnificent singing throughout, incorporating elements of many of the
wonderfully diverse traditions of these islands. All these musicians have their feet firmly
rooted in tradition, they love and respect it and also look forward to produce
fine new songs in a traditional style, sometimes with a very modern
seasoning. It's just great, so we get,
for example, the modern, politically angry Poor Man's Lamentation immediately
followed by the traditional, hauntingly beautiful S Trom
an Direadh. If you're familiar with the
work of Lady Maisery or the great Laylam album you'll know what I mean – and
this is the equal of them.
Forty-five years ago I began to sit in smoke-filled folk
clubs and dance the Morris. I can't do
any of that any more, but it really does an old folkie's heart good to know
that our traditions are in such brilliantly capable hands, both treasuring them
and developing them. This fabulous album
shows some of the very best of current
British folk music, and I can recommend it very warmly indeed.
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