reviews FOLK
Tiny Tin Lady Phil Hardy Jez Lowe &
Ridiculous Bohemia Revisted
The Bad Pennies
Northern Echoes
Tiny Tin Label Hobgoblin Music
TTL10208 HOBCD1008 Tantobie
TTRCD11O
CR JO’R
AL
Ridiculous Bohemia follows last year’s debut Revisited is a compilation of all the very best
CD from Merseyside-based Tiny Tin Lady; and tracks from Phil Hardy’s earlier recordings After Mike Harding called Jez Lowe “an unsung
the all-girl group has certainly overcome that on his own label, and tracks previously only hero of British folk music”, things are being put
difficult second album syndrome. available as downloads. A gifted tunesmith to rights in 2008 with nominations as Folksinger
using traditional and world music flavours in his Of The Year in the BBC Folk Awards, for Album
The trio line-up has now been augmented
compositions, he is a commendable tin whistle Of The Year in America’s Indie Acoustic Awards,
by fiddler Kat Gilmore who adds shimmering
player/ instrument maker and composer. Phil and with this new set of seventeen of his best
melodic texture. As before, rock solid bass
Hardy’s work offers a wealth of melodic vistas of songs, many long-unavailable on CD, recorded
from Helen Holmes underpins the whole and
expression, far beyond the normal confines of a live with The Bad Pennies, featuring fiddler
members of Fairport Convention contribute to
musician associated with the flute and Kate Bramley, piper and pianist Andy May, and
some tracks.
low whistle. bassist David de la Haye.
However, the band’s trademark is the spine
His work inhabits traditional Celtic idioms Jez also steps out solo, reflecting a breadth
tingling close harmony singing by Beth and
and wider melodic terrains. Mrs Murphy’s of performance that makes him one of the
Danni Gibbins. The sisters also take solo leads,
Camel inhabits an Egyptian bellydance groove busiest performers around, both in the UK and
their soaring voices complementing and
while Paddy’s Paradise basks in a Carribean overseas. A bonus DVD is also included, filmed
contrasting with one another. The album’s
atmosphere. Cun Ana is a cool slice of whistle during last year’s acclaimed Song For Geordie
twelve songs are mostly composed by elder
magic recalling Davey Spillane, a Moving Hearts tour, with Tyneside singer Benny Graham and
sister Danni, her lyrics characterised by rich
vibe caresses Leaving Friday Harbour and fiddler Shona Mooney guesting, and songs by
imagery and poignancy.
Cormac Breatnach’s Lakeside, which appears North Eastern writers like Tommy Armstrong,
Recorded and produced by the renowned
as a bonus track. Revisited offers a master class Alex Glasgow, Alan Hull, Mark Knopfler, and of
Mark Tucker, the resulting brightness and
of Celtic inspired and cotemporary traditional course Jez himself.
clarity highlights the band’s musicality without
music painted large on a world canvas.
www.jezlowe.com
overwhelming it. Compared to the debut album,
www.kerrywhistles.com
Ridiculous Bohemia shows Tiny Tin Lady rapidly
maturing in both songwriting and performance.
Chris While &
Blue Blokes Julie Matthews
“A unique blend of roots honesty and rock
Three
sensibilities not to be missed”
Together Alone
Mojo
Stubble
Fat Cat Records
Fledg’ling Records FATCD021
Simon Hopper FLED3068
Band
DK
The Less Blessed
CP
Chris and Julie’s latest studio collection is,
Control-Shift Music
Like tin, like content. A trio of bluesy male unsurprisingly, another polished, sublime set
CSMCD03
acoustic pickers, probably the wrong side of 30 with a feelgood demeanour celebrating triumph
(!) comprising Ian Anderson, Lu Edmonds and over adversity. Its title both epitomizes and
DK
Ben Mandelson on various frets with an eclectic acknowledges the paradox of modern living
repertory encompassing Trad.arr, self-pens, that unites all of humanity, and the songs within
Memphis Minnie and Elmore James. draw positives from that situation and our
Simon’s latest CD forms a plausible sequel to
experiences.
his widely acclaimed 2006 collection A Land The resonant Preacher’s Blues harks back
For The Many. Here again he powerfully and to Ian’s Hot Vulture days, there are no weak Dealing so very tenderly with simple universal
uncompromisingly addresses contemporary moments throughout and with well-wrought truths, they achieve their impact by an astute
issues such as the wholesale destruction of our arrangements, never a dull moment. The economy of expression allied to warmly
heritage by rampant consumerism and apathy. ensemble playing is tight and shot through accessible melodies and arrangements.
with the genuine love all three have for their
Simon’s own intelligence and insight are
material. The elegant Lovin’ Henry sits easily
Highlights? Julie’s Healed and Chris’s A Simple
matched by creative and satisfying folk-
alongside the fuscous traditional ballad Lord
Twist Of Fate, also their revisits of the heart-
rock backings from his small band, which
Allenwater, and stir into the mix A Fool Such As
rending The Sum Of What I Am (taken from
complement the traditional-sounding
I - hey presto, diversity needle enters the red
the HIV-themed Radio Ballad) and Julie’s
construction of many of the songs. At the same
area!
gorgeously melancholy Blue Old Saturday
time, his own earthy vocal style forcefully brings Night, both already familiar to Chris’n’Jools
the sentiments home, especially effectively on The fun these geezers had making this album is fans. And Take These Bones and Single Act Of
songs like Lammas Leaves (highlighting the self-evident and this is music so satisfying that it Kindness, both inspired by specific people or
elemental force of nature) and the unsettling would stick to the ribs! events. Expert backing from Messrs. Brookfield,
Olive Tree (the erosion or dismissal of our
“Long may their razors remain underused!”
Lees et al. sets the seal on this typically classy
roots), while he also displays a feel for the
fRoots
addition to the distinguished While & Matthews
lyrical in his portrait of the rolling Downs (Seven canon.
Sisters) and on The Ballad Of The Suffolk Five
“Two of my favorite singer songwriters in the
(restoring a human perspective to the tabloid
whole wide world”
coverage of the murdered Ipswich girls). Simon
Beth Nielsen Chapman
has much to say: ignore him at your peril.
“Satisfying songs with bite, edge and
contemporary relevance”
Win every CD featured in this issue enter our completion at
www.properdistribution.com
fRoots
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