Other Reviews

28/04/2009

Beneath The Black Tree

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Nick Wyke And Becki Driscoll

Devonshire is a captivating area of the world and birthplace of some very fine music. And it's often you will find the beauty of that county reflected in the work of its artists such as Phil Beer and Seth Lakeman. Now, to add to that list of creative Devonians come Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll, a fiddle playing duo, with a formidable musical knowledge and style.

'Beneath the Black Tree' isn't played exclusively on fiddles but this is where you'll find the album's heartbeat. It's the thrill of wood and string and the glory of acoustic instruments that is on show here. Two fiddles played with a recorded clarity that lets you follow each microtonal shift as they work in complimentary patterns - akin to a strand of DNA spiralling off in search of a natural conclusion.

The ten tracks contain three instrumental originals; all quietly gripping and a sure sign of this duo's ample resources as composers. 'The Antimacassar' and 'Flying Fish' are characterized by featherlight concise phrases which never lose their airborne qualities, despite being shot through with gorgeous shards of darkness and rich melancholy. Slightly different in tone is 'Barnstable To Umberleigh' which tells of the title's journey in landscape evoking tones reminiscent of Wistman's Wood.

The originals act as an ideal foil for their arrangements of traditional song. And a fine selection we have; there's an immediately impressive 'Benjamin Bowmaneer' - last heard by this reporter on Eliza Carty's 'Rice' album - and 'Edward' - a child ballad from the Appalachians. Through each narrative Nick shows his expertise as a fiddle-singer and for 'The Robber' he admirably stretches himself around the tune with a strident voice somewhat akin to Seth's - if not exactly in tone, then certainly something in the phrasing and delivery of his words.

Of course, being fiddlers, there's some dancing tunes, and yet even here they prove themselves to be anything but one-dimensional with 'The King Of Poland' taking the prize for most imaginative use of a glockenspiel. For this tune it underlies the melody with an unnerving 'stay off the moor' creepiness that sends the mind reeling.

With 'Beneath the Black Tree' Nick and Becki can now take their rightful place amongst the musical heritage of Devonshire and on the evolutionary path of folk's rich tapestry.

David Kushar

NICK AND BECKI

Here's a great site for Devonshire folk music - FLAXEY GREEN