Need recs on Pentangle/Fairport Convention

[A Lark Ascending]

English folk music: drawing from the past, pointing to the future

[mjazzg]

English folk music: drawing from the past, pointing to the future

Thanks for posting, Bev. I'd missed that on my trawl through the Grauniad

I sincerely hope that "like some yeasty Jacobean Hawkwind" is not the case on any number of levels

Article seems a little over-enthusiastic but has done its job by making want to hear both Spiro and Leveret

Off to see Jackie Oates next week (if I can locate the seemingly misplaced tickets)

[A Lark Ascending]

Spiro have a strong minimalist feel - Leveret are closer to the tradition. I prefer the latter but enjoy both.

Just listening to the latest Oates today. A really lovely singer. Hope you get to the concert.

Edited May 16, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[A Lark Ascending]

Another contemporary band who operate in a similar area to Spiro - driven, full of ostinato, memories of Steve Reich etc in amongst the folkiness.

The article gives the impression that this is a very recent renaissance - but all these albums are superb representations of mainly instrumental explorations of English (as opposed to Irish or Scottish) 'folk' music:

The Chris Wood/Andy Cutting duo are touring together again periodically and real should be seen - they do this amazing thing of taking the tunes down to an unhurried pace and then enter some sort of zen territory. It has to be heard to be believed. Mawkin (the band on 'The Fair Essex') go a bit broader in their later music including contemporary song and Django-ish guitar! They seem to be a bit more active tour wise this year with a new album coming - one of the hidden gem bands that seem to be known by reputation but have yet to break through to general acclamation in the folk world. Anything with Andy Cutting on will be blessed.

And if you really want to go to the origins of the revival of this sort of music you need to go to the dance bands that started in the 70s as a reaction to the dominance of Irish/Scottish music in the sessions of the time - Oak, Flowers and Frolics, Old Swan Band etc. A bit strict tempo for me, but fun. Not to mention the work of John Kirkpatrick. Given the thread title, it's interesting to note that Ashley Hutchings did a very sudden left turn in the mid-70s having become aware that he'd been playing Irish and Scottish music in Fairport and Steeleye and thought he ought to explore the music of his own country - that led into various bands that eventually became The Albion Band.

Now to go even further to the roots:

And many other archive recordings. Hardcore folkies do a Schnabel with this sort of thing.

Edited May 17, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[A Lark Ascending]

English folksinger/guitarist inspires new Al Pacino film...sort of... (John Lennon angle included!):

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/may/21/letter-john-lennon-singer-steve-tilston-al-pacino-film-danny-collins

(Steve Tilston is an excellent guitarist (serviceable singer); also Martha Tilston's dad).

[A Lark Ascending]

This won't mean a thing if you have no experience of going to a folk club or festival. But if you have:

Andrew Lloyd Webber pulverised!

[A Lark Ascending]

I have it.

If you loved Fotheringay then it is worthwhile. Has the original album, the Fotheringay 2 album put out a few years back and a host of radio and live tracks. Interesting to hear them play some of the key tracks live - they were good. I'd always thought of 'Banks of the Nile' as a studio only track for some reason.

Soundwise it's fine on the studio tracks - I don't notice any difference from the CD of the main album I had in the late-80s. Obviously the radio/live tracks are variable but like with the other sets built around Thompson, Fairport etc, you adjust. I've heard much worse. (Disclaimer: I'm not an audiophile so keener ears might pick up differences).

The original album (with, perhaps, the 2 album) will be enough for most. But if this band (or the musicians involved) were important to you, it's well worth the purchase.

[Stefan Wood]

I've been more than happy with this set:

[A Lark Ascending]

You are welcome.

I vaguely recall hearing the last BBC concert they did on the radio (early 1971?). It was on in the kitchen - I didn't know who Fotheringay (or Fairport for that matter) were at the time but recall the presenter being all sad about the break up. My intro was via the Island 'Bumpers' compilation - I was transfixed by 'The Sea', still one of my favourite songs. Wonderful chord changes and a near perfect guitar solo.

Jerry Donahue, Gerry Conway and Pat Donaldson are taking 'Fotheringay' on the road next month with various others. Nostalgia, no doubt, and missing two vital elements (and 40 years!) but would be interesting to hear. Sadly the closest concert to me is sold out.

http://www.folkradio.co.uk/2015/03/fotheringay-to-tour-uk-with-new-lineup/

[A Lark Ascending]

Shirley Collins: ‘When I sing I feel past generations standing behind me’

Best line: ‘How many banjo-playing prostitutes are there?’

80 years old this year!

[mjazzg]

Thanks for posting that Bev. A good read. Another 'name' whose music remains sadly undiscovered in this household. Something to be rectified

[A Lark Ascending]

Get yourself a copy of:

It doesn't seem to be in print at present which is daft. A collaboration with David Munrow's Early Music Consort. One side-long suite of songs, loosely based around the impact of WWI on the country world, with early music backing; then some individual songs. Bizarrely came out on Harvest alongside Deep Purple and Pink Floyd!

Or:

Which is classic early 70s folk rock - the template for what became the Albion Band. Never notice Lol Coxhill on the list before.

Her really famous one is from much earlier:

Also excellent.

Her voice takes a bit of a-climatising to - it's quite pure but richly accented. But once you get it, you become addicted.

Her book about song collecting in the states with Alan Lomax mentioned in the article is tremendous too.

Edited May 31, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[A Lark Ascending]

Oddball tribute discs number 5673...

Son of English squeezebox supremo and folk-rock pioneer John Kirkpatrick takes on Hendrix:

Leaving behind the guitar altogether (Hendrix did that rather well...), Benji tackles this material on bouzouki, banjo and mandolin

Benji Kirkpatrick has a career in various folk bands like Bellowhead (though they are about to disband) and Faustus. I saw him a few years back solo and it was a bit lacklustre - might have been the deadly early afternoon slot when everyone is ready for a nap. But a couple of weeks back with Faustus he was superb.

So I'm intrigued by this. 

(Sorry to anyone who feels I've hi-jacked this thread from its Fairport/Pentangle origins but I'm a bit of an advocate for places the inspiration of those bands (and many other influences) have taken us to today. I love classic era Fairport in particular but feel there's a lot of music that has come after that could well interest admirers of those bands). 

And talking of John, his WWI/II album is due up soon too:

 

I saw him do a fabulous one man show with this a couple of weeks back. Unfortunately the recording is unlikely to reflect his wonderful onstage wit or the way he recovers from mistakes.  

Edited August 25, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[A Lark Ascending]

A Fairport/Thompson connection you might have missed:

Came out a couple of years back. The Rails are James Walbourne and Kami Thompson, the latter being Richard and Linda's daughter.

Very good debut album with strong echoes of the R&L albums of the 70s. Kami sounds very much like mum, especially on the harmony vocals. Not quite the ache but there's time. Where what I've heard of her brother has passed my by, I think Kami has something. 

Very much a finding your feet and showing your influences record - there's a couple here that could have come off Henry the Human Fly. The songs written very deliberately in a folk style are probably just a little too formulaic.

But an entertaining record all round showing promise for the future. 

[A Lark Ascending]

I was listening to this today (mp3 of my 80s vinyl version...rather crackly) and thought it deserved a mention here:

One of the great semi-lost albums of the 70s. The Watersons had stopped performing when it came out in 1972 (they regathered later). Whereas Watersons records were mainly traditional songs, these are all written by Mike or Lal. I think I've heard it referred to as the folk revival's Sergeant Pepper and it has something of the fairground atmosphere of that record with a cast of equally odd people though living darker, even more disappointed lives. Deeply in touch with the countryside and the seasons (they were from a farming background after all), some of those songs like 'The Scarecrow' are straight out of The Wicker Man.

Fits here because of the prominent role played by Richard Thompson and other Fairports (plus Martin Carthy who was yet to be inducted into the Watersons). Thompson's guitar is wonderful throughout - he'd yet to move to the more rockist style of later years; if anything you hear the influence of country guitar all over the record.

To my ears one of the great records of the 70s (though it will sound a bit strange at first if you know the Fairport/Pentangle world but aren't too familiar with more hardcore English folk). Unfortunately, has yet to see a proper CD reissue as the chap who owned the rights refused to reissue it. He died a while back but whoever has inherited the rights seems in no hurry to allow reissue (along with a host of major folk revival records in their grasp from the likes of Nic Jones and Robin and Barry Dransfield).

Article about it from a few years back when a bunch of worthies toured it:   

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/10/bright-phoebus-waterson-toured-hawley-cocker-album

 

[A Lark Ascending]

Don't know if these film clips of the original Fairport are well known:

http://www.eyeneer.com/video/countryfolk/fairport-convention/time-will-show-the-wiser

http://www.eyeneer.com/video/countryfolk/fairport-convention/reno-nevada

Remarkably good quality given the age. The camera angles are pretty restricted and Judy Dyble looks bored throughout (or maybe that was just serious musician insouciance). The version of Reno Nevada is especially worth it with some great early RT. It was their extended jamming piece of the time. 

 

 

 

[danasgoodstuff]

I was listening to the Sandy Denny box and something came on that sounded like Weather Report in the middle ages, where can I get more of that?

[A Lark Ascending]

Two excellent discs from the tag end of the year worth exploring:

Mainly instrumental - both fiddle players with a bit of banjo. A little English and Americana, a lot of French and Swedish. How these two are so immersed in this music at such a young age amazes me.

Lal Waterson's daughter. Lives and breathes the 'Witchseason' air of Lal, Nick Drake, Michael Chapman, early John Martyn. If you were bewitched by the first record by The Unthanks this might hit the spot.

Both on Spotify (in the UK at least). 

****************************

Should mention this one too:

Very much the folk record to be seen admiring at the moment; lots of bollox about punk-folk being bandied about. Despite all that it is very good. Weakened by being largely songs that have been done to death (though I'd imagine many people will be hearing them for the first time; I've no doubt established folkies moaned about exactly the same when I was getting excited about Liege and Lief) but scores with the marvellous Lahn-dun vocals. Nothing ploughboy here. 

Recent live review from The Guardian (finding space for them amidst their standard glut of articles on Amy Winehouse and Taylor Swift):

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/07/stick-in-the-wheel-review-kings-place-london

***************************

And by chance Froots have just announced the results of their annual steeplechase:

1. Stick In The Wheel From Here (From Here)
2. Anna & Elizabeth Anna & Elizabeth (Free Dirt)
3. Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba Ba Power (Glitterbeat)
4. Sam Lee & Friends The Fade In Time (Nest Collective)
5. Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino Quaranta 40 (Ponderosa)
6. The Rheingans Sisters Already Home (RootBeat)
7.=Emily Portman Coracle (Furrow)
      Leveret New Anything (RootBeat)
9.=Simpson, Cutting & Kerr Murmurs (Topic)
      Vieux Farka Touré & Julia Easterlin Touristes (Six Degrees)
11. Mbongwana Star From Kinshasa (World Circuit)
12. False Lights Salvor (Wreckord)
13.=Olivia Chaney The Longest River (Nonesuch)
        Jackie Oates The Spyglass & The Herringbone (ECC)
        Songhoy Blues Music In Exile (Transgressive)
        Spiro Welcome Joy And Welcome Sorrow (Real World)
        The Unthanks Mount The Air (Rabble Rouser Music)
18.=Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Segal Musique De Nuit (No Format!)
        Blick Bassy Akö (No Format)
        Kandia Kouyaté Renascence (Stern’s)
        Tom & Ben Paley Paley & Son (Hornbeam)

http://www.frootsmag.com/content/critpoll/

Ignore the silly ranking. Lots of wonderful music there. (Bold ones are things I've also really enjoyed; underlined are things I've heard but have yet to really connect with).   

Edited December 8, 2015 by A Lark Ascending

[Jazzjet]

23 hours ago, A Lark Ascending said:

Two excellent discs from the tag end of the year worth exploring:

Mainly instrumental - both fiddle players with a bit of banjo. A little English and Americana, a lot of French and Swedish. How these two are so immersed in this music at such a young age amazes me.

Lal Waterson's daughter. Lives and breathes the 'Witchseason' air of Lal, Nick Drake, Michael Chapman, early John Martyn. If you were bewitched by the first record by The Unthanks this might hit the spot.

Both on Spotify (in the UK at least). 

****************************

Should mention this one too:

Very much the folk record to be seen admiring at the moment; lots of bollox about punk-folk being bandied about. Despite all that it is very good. Weakened by being largely songs that have been done to death (though I'd imagine many people will be hearing them for the first time; I've no doubt established folkies moaned about exactly the same when I was getting excited about Liege and Lief) but scores with the marvellous Lahn-dun vocals. Nothing ploughboy here. 

Recent live review from The Guardian (finding space for them amidst their standard glut of articles on Amy Winehouse and Taylor Swift):

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/07/stick-in-the-wheel-review-kings-place-london

***************************

And by chance Froots have just announced the results of their annual steeplechase:

1. Stick In The Wheel From Here (From Here)
2. Anna & Elizabeth Anna & Elizabeth (Free Dirt)
3. Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba Ba Power (Glitterbeat)
4. Sam Lee & Friends The Fade In Time (Nest Collective)
5. Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino Quaranta 40 (Ponderosa)
6. The Rheingans Sisters Already Home (RootBeat)
7.=Emily Portman Coracle (Furrow)
      Leveret New Anything (RootBeat)
9.=Simpson, Cutting & Kerr Murmurs (Topic)
      Vieux Farka Touré & Julia Easterlin Touristes (Six Degrees)
11. Mbongwana Star From Kinshasa (World Circuit)
12. False Lights Salvor (Wreckord)
13.=Olivia Chaney The Longest River (Nonesuch)
        Jackie Oates The Spyglass & The Herringbone (ECC)
        Songhoy Blues Music In Exile (Transgressive)
        Spiro Welcome Joy And Welcome Sorrow (Real World)
        The Unthanks Mount The Air (Rabble Rouser Music)
18.=Ballaké Sissoko & Vincent Segal Musique De Nuit (No Format!)
        Blick Bassy Akö (No Format)
        Kandia Kouyaté Renascence (Stern’s)
        Tom & Ben Paley Paley & Son (Hornbeam)

http://www.frootsmag.com/content/critpoll/

Ignore the silly ranking. Lots of wonderful music there. (Bold ones are things I've also really enjoyed; underlined are things I've heard but have yet to really connect with).   

Thanks, Bev. I tend to overlook folk when searching for new music, despite the fact that I have a lot of it my collection (particularly the Witchseason variety). The Marry Waterson is right up my street and I'm also enjoying the Rheingans Sisters. Not sure about Stick In The Wheel though. Sounds like it might appeal to bearded hipsters in Hoxton (as opposed to bearded hipsters in Cornwall).

[jlhoots]

Always love The Unthanks!! Oh - and I like the Anna & Elizabeth album too.

I'll check out the Rheingans Sisters & Stick In The Wheel.

Edited December 8, 2015 by jlhoots

[A Lark Ascending]

13 hours ago, Jazzjet said:

 Not sure about Stick In The Wheel though. Sounds like it might appeal to bearded hipsters in Hoxton (as opposed to bearded hipsters in Cornwall).

Ian Anderson of fRoots has his projects and he's been pushing this lot for a few years. I was initially resistant - ever since the early 80s he's been presenting an interpretation that folk, punk and World Music are natural bedfellows and he tends to go over-the-top about anything that can be squeezed into that area. Initially the 'Artful Dodger' vocals sounded affected but after a few plays I really took to the record. There's a great self-written track about shop lifting which is almost a musical version of 'This is England'. The difficulty they'll have now is developing this approach rather than just repeating it with other folk songs. I'm going to see them on a moor in Derbyshire in a few months so it'll be interesting to experience them in the flesh.

I'm surprised this one didn't make the list, another favourite of mine from the end of the year:

  

A Welsh singer and a group of Indian musicians. The music is based around the ghazal tradition but with some Welsh vocals and songs. Could have been sausages and custard but the whole thing is a delight. Would appeal to lovers of things like Shakti - no virtuosi instrumental displays but they same musical world.  

[mjazzg]

O, good lord, listening to Marry Waterson for the first time.....I think I'm falling in love........

whilst I can hear what "witchseason" may mean as a sub genre, where's that term come from?

 

[A Lark Ascending]

1 minute ago, mjazzg said:

O, good lord, listening to Marry Waterson for the first time.....I think I'm falling in love........

whilst I can hear what "witchseason" may mean as a sub genre, where's that term come from?

 

It was Joe Boyd's stable of performers in the late 60s/early 70s. Back in that time there was always something a bit magical about the line at the bottom of things like the Fairport albums - 'A Witchseason Production'...I hadn't a clue what it meant at the time. Still makes me think of a world of plain record production - post-wall-of-sound psychedelia, pre multi-track recording (with the temptation to use every track available) - and recordings that seemed built from the acoustic up, still imbibed with that wonderful guitar sound of the 60s (Graham, Jansch, Jones etc).  

Waterson/Jaycock are magical live...lovely, warm personalities. I was so excited by their gig in Sheffield last week that I'm going to this in Scarborough in January:

Marry Waterson explained that Norma finds it hard to get around the country these days so they thought they'd get the audience to come to her. 

Scarborough should be a sight to behold in early January! 

[Jazzjet]

Interesting to see Kate St John on the bill. With Dream Academy she had a hit with 'Life In A Northern Town', a tribute to Nick Drake. Her solo albums are wonderful though, particularly 'Indescribable Night' and 'Second Sight', neither of which feature on her Wikipedia page for some reason. There's a beautiful song called 'There Is Sweet Music Here That Softer Falls' on 'Indescribable Night' that's well worth seeking out on Spotify etc.

[A Lark Ascending]

12 minutes ago, Jazzjet said:

Interesting to see Kate St John on the bill. With Dream Academy she had a hit with 'Life In A Northern Town', a tribute to Nick Drake. Her solo albums are wonderful though, particularly 'Indescribable Night' and 'Second Sight', neither of which feature on her Wikipedia page for some reason. There's a beautiful song called 'There Is Sweet Music Here That Softer Falls' on 'Indescribable Night' that's well worth seeking out on Spotify etc.

I will explore...thanks. 

I only know her from some of the Van Morrison albums she's been involved in. Though her website gives an indication of her interests:

Musical Director credits:

• Rogues Gallery Sea Shanty shows in the UK in 2008 and Sydney 2010 with Lou Reed, Tim Robbins, Shane Macgowan, The Carthy/Waterson Clan, Todd Rundgren and many others.
• The Folk Britannia Daughters of Albion series of concerts.
• The Thompson 2008 family reunion Christmas show, A Not So Silent Night.
• A Wainwright Family Christmas, Albert Hall 2009.
• Way To Blue: a tribute to Nick Drake series of concerts with Joe Boyd.
• An Evening of Political Song for Meltdown 2010, Festival Hall, curated by Richard Thompson. 

Right up my street!