ELBOW JANE
The Boldest Blood Fellside FECD242
played live, and that is where I feel Elbow Jane’s strength lies. But listen to The Boldest Blood for yourself and make up your own mind.
Dave Beeby PAUL MCGLINCHEY
The Boys Of The Town Private Label PMG002
STRAWBS
ACOUSTIC GOLD Witchwood Media WMCD2052
Elbow Jane have got a great live act which takes the audience on a roller coaster of emotions. They have three very good lead singers and songwriters. Add to this their excellent musicality, all served up with that Northern sense of humour - even though they do hail from the wrong side of the Pennines - and you’ve got a winning formula.
The Boldest Blood is their second CD for Fellside and their third or fourth altogether. It has all their usual trademarks: a roller coaster of emotions due to the writing of Joe Topping, Kev Byrne, and Rich Woods; sympathetic instrumentation and a good clear sound due to the lads themselves and Paul Adams at Fellside; and a well presented booklet and packaging. I have to say though that I found the hand written notes a bit hard to read - but I know a couple are, or were, teachers so perhaps it should be expected!
The CD opens well with Ode To Icarus with its message to beware the falls that follow success, followed by a song inspired by interviews with those left behind as a result of the horrors of war, something which seems ever increasingly important during the current climate. It has a great chorus, but somehow the verses seem to fall short of delivering such an important message. Gone Are The Days puts into words the feeling of despondency the inhabitants of the post industrial north feel - irrespective of which side of the Pennines. Pilgrim’s Lullaby suggests we learn from the past and rest awhile during the current economic climate or “chaos” as it is called here. I found Throw Me To The Wind quite inspirational in the faith expressed, which is not surprising in that they have featured on a well known Radio 2 Sunday show hosted by an equally well known celebrity from a bit further west on the same coastline. Throughout The Boldest Blood there seems to be a thread running about hope no matter what situation we find ourselves in, we still need to push ourselves but to be aware of the consequences - both for us and others.
Whilst I enjoyed this CD, I am not sure it lives quite up to the high expectations I had as a result of previous releases and live performances. I haven’t heard this material
The Living Tradition - Page 52
Tyrone fluter Paul McGlinchey’s second CD is doubly welcome. Firstly, it’s even better than his debut release Unearthed from a few years back. Paul has obviously been playing a great deal since then, and his tone and technique show the benefit, making him now one of Ulster’s finest on the flute. Secondly, he’s chosen a splendid set of tunes to record: kicking off with the great Shetland reel Oot Be Est da Vong and the ever popular Maids of Mount Cisco, Paul continues with The Maid in the Meadow and Scatter the Mud before the spine-tingling slow air Cape Clear. His playing is rhythmic, clean and powerful, and simply a joy to listen to. Mike McGoldrick’s Full Set and Vincent Broderick’s Flagstone of Memories, Tommy Peoples’ composition Black Pat’s and the classic Thrush in the Storm - there’s no shortage of big reels as Paul pumps out fourteen tracks of fine fluting. He’s backed by fellow Tyrone man Arty McGlynn on guitar, with Seamus O’Kane on the old frame drum and Ryan O’Donnell on traditional Irish bouzouki.
You don’t often hear a redowa these days. I can’t tell you the difference between a redowa, a mazurka and a waltz, but The Barnacle is a nice one in any case. Paul also manages to squeeze in a second slow air, the gentle Taimse im’ Chodhladh. A pair of Northern marches by Arty’s uncle, a couple of well-known and well-played hornpipes, and a whole rake of jigs bring us to the final big set of reels: The Pigeon on the Gate, The Green Mountain and The Galway Rambler, none of them unusual but all strongly delivered here, with a touch of that Ulster rushing style.
Plenty of energy, plenty of soul, and some very fine accompaniment make Paul McGlinchey’s music well worth hearing.
You can get a taste at www.flutemcglinchey. com of course.
Alex Monaghan Kieran’s 20th album sees a return to his relaxed intimate songwriting style for which he is Sponsored by BIrnam CD
As the Strawbs, Dave Cousins & Co have been on the road for five decades now - I recall seeing them as the Strawberry Hill Boys about 1965 at the college of that name - their style hasn’t changed that much, quite Dylan influenced with a bit of Incredible String Band and you have a fair idea of this folk/rock band’s spot on the dial. Their big 1973 hit Part Of The Union made their name and they’ve travelled the world since, playing their ‘acoustic’ and fairly gentle music to appreciative audiences.
They don’t rely, unlike many groups of a certain age, on popular old songs, but this CD is composed of mostly new material. It’s a popular genre, and they keep illustrious company, Rick Wakeman guesting on A Glimpse Of Heaven and Witchwood. Loyal fans of the band will know the last two ‘bonus’ tracks of older material in Beat The Retreat and Ringing Down The Years. That’s exactly what this album does, and the old skills are still there in the band’s fifth decade of performances, ringing down the years.
Jim Bainbridge KIERAN HALPIN
The Devil And His Dealing SOS SOS021
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