(Review
by Ann Alex).
I’ve been given special dispensation by
Blogmaster Lance to review this folk music CD on BSH. We encountered this
excellent band when we dropped by the Prohibition Bar on the Friday of the
GIJF, and, after chatting with the band, were given a review copy.
The songs are all originals except for one
traditional number (Katie Cruel) and
they have the distinction of being immediately memorable and accessible, with
strong hooks to draw in the listener, and themes not a million miles away from
many a blues number.
There are tales of female murderers (Mary Ann Cotton), the dangers of the
working life (Spend Your Money Quick),
about the hazards of working in a munitions factory during WW2; love songs (The Crying Song) which has lines
familiar to jazzers about crying a river.
I loved Emily Said, which
concerned the 19thC American poet Emily Dickinson, who wrote some 1800 poems
but was unappreciated in her lifetime. The title Northern Lines is illustrated by the CD cover which shows a
derelict railway station and many of the songs refer to Teesside, where the
band presumably hail from.
The track Old Northern Line tells about the railway line through time, where
lovers have met, industry has died, the land is scarred, which evokes the
post-industrial present. This track naturally has train rhythms and percussion
swishes to remind us of the days of steam.
The instrumentation is appropriate and
skilfully done, with wonderful fiddle-playing, sensitive drums and skilled
guitar. The titles of the tracks not yet mentioned are: Peg Powler (another wicked female); Wildfire; Everybody Wants To Be; Don’t Be Afraid; Go Tell The
Fisherman’s Daughter; A Ballad Of Swords And Shields; Swallow Song.
This band deserves to be better known
among folkies, and it is highly recommended for folk-loving jazz fans as well.
The music was released on July 2, 2016 on
Time &Tide records and is available for streaming and download. Link.
Ann
Alex
Ian Bartholomew (guitar, lead and backing vocals); Sara Dennis (Ukulele, lead and backing vocals); Mags Forward (fiddle, backing vocals); David Pratt (drums, perc, backing vocals); All songs arranged by the band and (except 1) written by Bartholomew and Dennis. Also one song by Pratt and Bartholomew. Chris Davison (bass guitar on 3 tracks).
No comments :
Post a Comment