Other Reviews

18/02/2009

Sand and Soil

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Maclaine Colston & Saul Rose

Hammered Dulcimer... what an evocative name for a musical instrument, and well deserved as it produces a deeply evocative and individual sound. Combine Maclaine Colston's skill on the dulcimer with Saul Rose's instantly recognisable melodeon technique and you have a match made in heaven.

Sand & Soil is their slightly unusual debut album, in that it collects together material from as far back as 1996, whilst adding fresh material recorded in 2008. Colston & Rose actually formed their duo in 1996 whilst playing with Eliza Carthy & The Kings Of Calicutt, this album marks a re-launch of their unique partnership.

Maclaine Colston is currently a member of Jennifer Crook's band, he has played with everyone from the London Philarmonic Orchestra on film soundtracks to the alt pop act Tina Mali. Saul Rose can be heard on recordings by Eliza Carthy, Waterson:Carthy, Bellowhead, whapweasel and Faustus to name a few. Their skills combined offer up something completely different and new, their technical virtuosity is bolstered by vocals that work so well together. As with any album that involves trad material its lasting appeal hinges on the arrangements, unsurprisingly Colston & Rose are master craftsmen in this department too, choosing the bones on which to hang the flesh and blood of their songs with a wonderfully eclectic eye and ear.

These are two deeply skilled musicians whose wide range of influences and passions have resulted in the delectable Sand & Soil. Mind you, they have also called on a great set of friends; Teph Kay, whose vocals set against the dulcimer give Don't You Go lend it an air of Dead Can Dance. Jennifer Crook lifts the blokeyness of it all with her backing vocals and Maclaine Colston's dad, Mark Colgan, supplies vocals and guitars on a couple of tracks as well as some arrangements.

On the face of it it seems an odd choice to digitally restore the tracks recorded in 1998 rather than simply re-recording them, but would they be as good? Would they capture the magic of that moment in time?... unlikely, and Sand & Soil is all the stronger for it.

Colston & Rose will be playing live dates in 2009.

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