SpiralEarth.co.uk - Reviews

Tales of Love, War and Death by Hanging

Now that is a challenging title, no whimsy here. In fact the album plays out like an episode of Sharpe, often brutal yet beholden to a melancholic compassion. Ray Cooper, aka Chopper, of Oysterband fame has written a set of songs that are red in tooth and claw. Ray is himself a melting pot of cultures, Scottish mother, English Father, Irish roots and lives in Sweden. The Swedish connection seems wound through the albums arrangements, the kantele that Ray plays evokes the icy Northern forests, black cliffs girdled by mists. Bleak yet simultaneously awe inspiring in it's grandeur.

Hearts And Minds

That Seth Lakeman has gone from recording his albums in his parent's kitchen to having a producer of the stature of Grammy award-winning Tchad Blake at the helm of his latest album is quite a journey. The fact that he has maintained and enhanced his own unique sound throughout that journey is a testament to his integrity. Hearts and Minds sees the return of Benji Kirkpatrick to Seth's band, indeed the whole album feels more of a band-led affair.

False Lights From The Land EP

This EP comes on the heels of his BBC Radio 2 series 'The Ocean' in which Hawley explored the way seafaring culture has influenced British music, literature, poetry and art. At the 2010 Folk Awards he presented an award to Martin Simpson, In his speech Hawley remarked on being so in awe when Norma Waterson sang an unaccompanied song for him during the recording of the series, the experience reduced him to 'a puddle of piss'. His exploration of the artistry of songwriting and the relationship it has with the land and sea was masterful.

Folk Against Fascism

This carefully programmed and perfectly mastered compilation is the first in a planned series. As a statement of musical solidarity and mutual intolerance of intolerance, it is very welcome, but it also more than stands up to scrutiny from a purely listening point of view.

The Longshot

'The Longshot' is the fourth album from Debbie and Stu Hanna, perpetual nominees for best duo at the BBC Folk Awards. Since their first album Stu has become a highly regarded and in demand producer in the folk world, being at the helm for Mawkin Causley and the latest Show Of Hands album. The fact that Steve Knightley and Phil Beer trusted Stu implicitly with the production of their Arrogance Ignorance and Greed album speaks volumes for his skills.

Blue Beginnings

Who'd have thought a rag, in all its cheeky meanderings, could flow so nicely into an English Morris tune?

Levellers Live

Following on from the Levellers being our guest editors in April we went to see them play at the Junction in Cambridge. Their first tour of 2010 is in smaller club venues, the Cambdidge Junction is a venue they have played many times in the past twenty years, and it's a fair bet that many in the sell out crowd have been to all of the gigs.

Show Of Hands

The gig the night before was cancelled. And so were the following three. We were lucky. Very lucky. But then again, Steve Knightley was never going to disappoint the punters at one of his favourite venues. Lazarus-like, he rose and delivered - despite a lurgy which must have left him feeling pretty ghastly.

Dust And Gold

It's the duty of all critics to compare any female musical artist to either Bjork or Joni Mitchell. At least that's what you'd assume if you regularly read the press. Of course this lazy and rampant compartmentalism doesn't do justice to many an independently minded performer such as Rachel Taylor-Beales, whose colour trilogy, has defied any easy tag from the start. 'Dust & Gold' now completes this intriguing series and offers up more of Rachel's idiosyncrasies in the shape of jazz-inflected storytelling, lush balladry and rootsy rambles.

Steve Knightley & Jenna

A NEAR capacity audience relished the extraordinary musicianship and singing of Steve Knightley at the Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton. Knightley - one half of the ever-popular West Country acoustic folk group Show of Hands - was in town on the second leg of a 25-date tour Even in a fairly large theatre setting, Knightley managed to bring a chatty intimacy to this well-produced show. Mind you, he knows how to get his wonderful songs across � venues are no problem.