Record Reviews
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  | STEELEYE SPAN ~ ALL THINGS ARE QUITE SILENT: COMPLETE RECORDINGS 1970-71
CHERRY TREE 022 (Barcode: 5013929692206) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock
Recorded: 1970 - 1971 Released: 2019
This Box Set collects the reissues of the first three magnificent albums by the seminal British Folk-Rock group Steeleye SpanFind albums by this artist: "Hark! The Village WaitFind albums with this title" (1970), "Please To See The KingFind albums with this title" (1971) and "Ten Man Mop Or Mr. Reservoir Butler Rides AgainFind albums with this title" (1971). The group was formed by the Godfather of the British Folk-Rock movement bassist / songwriter Ashley HutchingsFind albums by this artist following his departure from Fairport ConventionFind albums by this artist. The first lineup of the group, which recorded the first album in this collection, included also vocalist Maddy PriorFind albums by this artist, vocalist / multi-instrumentalist Tim HartFind albums by this artist, vocalist Gay WoodsFind albums by this artist and her husband multi-instrumentalist Terry WoodsFind albums by this artist. Following the departure of Gay and Terry, guitarist Martin CarthyFind albums by this artist and violinist Peter KnightFind albums by this artist joined the group and took part in the recording of the remaining two albums in this collection.
Steeleye Span was the absolute epitome of British Folk-Rock, performing mostly traditional British music with very few exceptions. The superb arrangements, which are based on wonderful vocal harmonies and exceptional instrumental work, made the group truly invincible in their idiom, and these sublime recordings are absolutely timeless and sound wonderfully contemporary to this very day.
Under Hutchings leadership the group showed deep respect towards the incredibly rich sources of traditional British music and brought it up to date with flair and elegance. Their approach was mimicked by many of their contemporaries and basically all Folk-Rock groups since can be referenced to these recordings. Prior´s exquisite vocals are an absolute treasure of this idiom and she remains invincible in her reign, with a long list of solo albums in addition to her work with Steeleye Span and other artists.
Only the third album in this collection is expanded by four studio bonus tracks. All three albums were reissued individually in 2005 / 2006 by CastleFind albums on this label Records and the second and third albums were expanded with the inclusion of wonderful BBC sessions, sadly not present here.
Overall this is an absolute essential material for all British Folk-Rock connoisseurs, since within the boundaries of that genre things don´t ever get better than what this Box Set offers.
| | Updated: 14/07/2022Posted: 14/09/2019 | CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | STEELEYE SPAN ~ GOOD TIMES OF OLD ENGLAND: STEELEYE SPAN 1972-1983
CHRYSALIS 5060516098798 (Barcode: +506051609879) ~ UK ~ Folk-Rock
Recorded: 1972 - 1983 Released: 2022
This magnificent Box Set combines the recordings by the seminal British Folk-Rock group Steeleye SpanFind albums by this artist, starting with their 4th album from 1972 and spanning all the nine albums released on the ChrysalisFind albums on this label label until 1983, which were: “Below The SaltFind albums with this title” (1972), “Parcel Of RoguesFind albums with this title” (1973), “Now We Are SixFind albums with this title” (1974), “Commoners CrownFind albums with this title” (1975), “All Around My HatFind albums with this title” (1975), “Rocket CottageFind albums with this title” (1976), “Storm Force TenFind albums with this title” (1977), “Live At LastFind albums with this title” (1978) and finally “Sails Of SilverFind albums with this title” (1980). Three additional CDs include the Australian only live album “On TourFind albums with this title” (1983) and two previously unreleased live concerts “Live At The Rainbow Theatre” (1974) and “Live At The Berklee Performance Centre, Boston” (1976), altogether twelve CDs of some the of the best music ever recorded on this planet. The original albums are all remastered and expanded with bonus tracks. An excellent booklet full of detailed information and retrospective look at these albums is also included.
This release continues the much smaller Box Set entitled “All Things Are Quite Silent: Complete Recordings 1970-71Find albums with this title”, which collects the first three albums by the group, released in 2019 on the Cherry TreeFind albums on this label label.
Fronted by the brilliant and charismatic vocalist Maddy PriorFind albums by this artist and featuring over the years the crop of the cream of the British Folk-Rock musicians, such as guitarists / vocalists Tim HartFind albums by this artist and Martin CarthyFind albums by this artist, bassist Rick KempFind albums by this artist, fiddler Peter KnightFind albums by this artist and others, Steeleye Span were undoubtedly the finest representatives of the genre of all time and their glorious recording legacy is an absolute treasure chest. The group performed original material written by the group members and traditional Folk material, always wonderfully arranged and beautifully balancing between the acoustic and electric approach and above all always perfectly sung and played. The music includes songs, instrumentals, a cappella vocalese, and anything imaginable, often groundbreaking and intellectually challenging, superbly demonstration the British music aesthetic.
Overall, this is one of those Box Sets any serious music lover simply can’t ignore, even if he (most probably) already has the original albums in his collection. This fairly priced Box Set is simply elegant, and to be honest useful and space saving, not to mention essential, being worth its weight in gold and precious stones, etc. British Folk-Rock offered the world, or at least those who wanted to listen, some of the most honest, heartfelt music on this planet and Steeleye Span were simply a Godsend. This is beyond essential!
| | Updated: 14/07/2022Posted: 14/07/2022 | CD 12 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | TREVOR WATTS` ORIGINAL DRUM ORCHESTRA ~ THE ART IS IN THE RHYTHM VOLUME 2
JAZZ IN BRITAIN 46 (Barcode: 5060774190531) ~ UK ~ Avant-Garde Jazz-World Fusion
Recorded: 1989 Released: 2023
This is an archival live recording by the veteran British saxophonist / composer / bandleader Trevor WattsFind albums by this artist and his Original Drum OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which included violinist Peter KnightFind albums by this artist, bassist Ernest MothleFind albums by this artist, African percussionists Nana TsiboeFind albums by this artist and Kofi AduFind albums by this artist and drummer Liam GenockeyFind albums by this artist. The six lengthy improvised tracks were captured at two gigs, which were part of a tour the group played in 1989. The CD is dedicated to the memory of the two percussionist, who are now departed.
The music is all improvised, but differs significantly from what is usually conceived as European Free Jazz / Improvised Music due to the presence of the African Music elements, which have a prevailing rhythmic presence. With the saxophone and violin being the only melodic contributors to the music, the percussive elements dominate the proceedings, offering a wide range of pulsations, which keep changing as the pieces develop. It is possibly one of the most vivid examples of African Music within the British Improvised Music idiom, and of course it does continue Watts’ fascination with such musical elements, as present in his ensembles Moire MusicFind albums by this artist and Drum OrchestraFind albums by this artist, which were active during the 1980s and 1990s.
Watts’ improvisations are of course as fascinating as always, obviously highly inspired by the powerful rhythmic elements present herein, and he often exposes his lyrical / melodic persona, which is able to weave beautiful gentle tunes as well.
The music is very well recorded and offers a truly hypnotic ride, which thanks to the extensive duration of the tunes, often close and even over the half an hour mark, absorbs the listener completely for the duration. The more inquisitive listeners might delight in the interplay between the two percussionists and the drummer, who build a trans-continental Euro-African rhythmic understanding and co-existence.
As usual, thanks to the Jazz In BritainFind albums on this label label for releasing this archival material, for the excellent booklet and photographs and as usual for keeping this Cultural Heritage alive.
Overall, this is again a great addition to the British Jazz legacy, which keeps growing steadily and closing the gaps that time created, for those of us who are always thirsty to hear music, which should not be forgotten. Keep up this splendid job my Friends! And Trevor – may you keep playing for many years to come!
| | Updated: 23/07/2023Posted: 23/07/2023 | CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
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