Feather-a new Album by Edgelarks

(Review as published in May Folk Monthly)
Feather                                         Edgelarks 

 Dragonfly Roots Records         Release date May 17^th 2019

          Edgelarks are a duo comprised of Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin. Winners of the “Best Duo” category in 2014's Radio Two Folk Awards, “Feather” is their fifth studio album. They were nominated in the same category again in 2016 and 2018. Rated (a little improbably?) by Mike Harding as “one of the best duos on the planet,” they are valued highly also by Iain Anderson and The Guv'nor himself, Mark Radcliffe.

        Approaching this new album without having read such accolades and without prejudice, it is still an impressive and thoughtful piece of work:the powerful cumulative result of two musical forces working collaboratively together.

          They are both impeccable musicians. I really enjoyed Henry's solo album released last year, “True North.” So much so, that I rated it ninth in the Anker Folk Top 50 albums of 2018, released and broadcast in 2019. His guitar work is by turns moody and expressive and is always exemplary. On this album, Hannah supplements his work on dobro,steel guitar and harmonica by adding her own virtuosity on banjo and fiddle. But it is the timbre of her voice that is the final, potent ingredient. It is redolent at times of June Tabor or Joni Mitchell. That good-it is an instrument she uses to great effect.

          The album was produced by Mark Tucker and Henry himself. It was recorded as late as last December and during January 2019 at the Green Room in Devon. It was mixed and mastered there and also at ARC studios,Eynsham. (Hope nobody poached their tunes?). Arrangements are by Phillip Henry. All ten songs are original bar an innovative reworking of “Spencer The Rover.”

      “ Wander” fairly rocks along,a foot-tapping homage to travel and exploration. “Oyster” is more maritime than Transport for London,a mysterious piece with some eerie sound effects. Is that percussive background beat the marching feet of Oysters? Or the massed band of ticket collectors snapping hole punches? Do Oysters even have feet? It is a track that poses more questions than answers.

      There are echoes of Ewan MacColl and his Railway ballads, there are May Days and Tors,Standing stones and moorlands, ice creams and holidays-really there is far too much crammed in to describe fairly here. In the nicest possible way,it is like a beach full of flotsam and jetsam:a place where you can pick things out,turn them over and examine them and perhaps keep something for later.

        The album's release pre-empts an 18 date U.K. Tour which begins in Bath on May 16^th and ends at Towcester in June. Refreshingly, Feather is, (as its title suggests),cheerful and upbeat. A welcome break from the stygian gloom of dungeons, collieries, crowded quaysides, prisons and ships' holds featured in the repertoire of so many Folk artistes. The sleeve notes describe the contents as “songs for tired hearts,troubled minds and soulsick wanderers. Songs of Hope.” God knows,in our turbulent world at present, there is a niche for a few more of these?

May Day with IOTA

           Sometimes it just seems I am fortunate to be blessed by being surrounded by beautiful and talented women. A collection of gorgeous,feisty nieces and Great Nieces. A daughter and daughter in law who combine challenging careers with being energetic working mums. An adorable,funny two year old granddaughter who can already count to ten,make up her own songs and identify geometric shapes by name. And my wife,Maggie. My Rock. who has put up with me for nearly 50 years. 

          When I indulge myself in music, like  at Nuneaton Folk Club,last night,she is there beside me.. Expertly running the raffle,keeping me company and offering critical and insightful analysis of the various acts. (Including mine). Also often at my side on stage at NFC is my Niece known affectionately by her stage name as “Flossy.” Founder member of Nunc. She of the glorious voice and full on stage presence. Unable to make it last night.  No doubt about it,I was gutted,and so were the band and the audience.  It’s no secret that her powerful, expressive voice is one of the best on the circuit. 

         Which  is not to demean the craggy,chiseled muscle-toned good looks of all those males who graced the stage last night. They also played their part in making it one of the best evenings we’ve ever had at NFC since we started up at The Crown in October 2014.( Yes, it was that good). In terms of attendance,(standing room only),entertainment and musical virtuosity,it was a Collectors' Item. Here's some evidence-all photos here are courtesy of John B.Smith. 

         It’s not easy running such an enterprise as NFC as a volunteer. A lot of organisation and planning goes ahead well beforehand. Without the total support of Rich Burlingham and his staff (including our youthful Sound Crew), I’d be lost. The Crew rescued Folk and Roots music in Nuneaton when, (aside from a few excellent sessions like those at The Fox on Mondays),  it was on its knees. Now there is a top quality venue in the Town,with facilities most organisers can only dream of,and a Guest List to match. It's the little touches from Rich that add the finishing veneer. Nibbles in bowls on the tables. (At my request) the exquisite and locally provenanced Church End Goat's Milk 

        The scenes before the evening proper begins are always hectic. But we started, miraculously on time. A depleted Nunc hastily re-scribbled a running order at 7.59pm and shoved Paul Moore into the spotlight. He did not disappoint. Kicking off with "Sitting On Top of The World," he followed with his own composition,an NFC debut for "Mr.Moonshine." Holding on to his precious mandolin,we then launched straight into "Copperhead Road." This time John Kearney belted out the lead vocal. 

          Next up was Adam Wilson. We've favoured Adam a few times at NFC. A bright new talent,he has an extensive vocal range and is not afraid to tackle challenging arrangements of old songs. Demonstrated by his starter, a Beatles cover. Followed by a Stereophonics classic "Billy Davey's daughter. And concluded with an ambitious tilt at Foy Vance's magnum opus,"Wild Swans on The Lake." Impressive. 

          Maintaining the quality up popped two thirds of Daisybell,Katherine and Anya. They previewed a song from Katherine's forthcoming Folk Opera and added "This Wheel s Broken," truly a modern protest song. Featuring some epic rotation of Anya's nutsack,which sounds gruesome but is actually a percussive instrument.  

                   How to maintain that quality level? Simple. Wheel out Craig Sunderland. A popular choice. Great choice of material,great singing voice and one of the finest guitarists you can see locally. With the additional bonus of an inventive version of "Little John Barleycorn," Craig left the stage to deserved applause.

                    Paper Circus arrived to pick up the baton. There were people in the room who had not yet heard Jennian's remarkable singing voice,so I popped out into the auditorium to see how they reacted.(It's always interesting to see jaws dropping). PC will be back at The Queen's Hall in a few weeks. Saturday May 17th to be precise,when they are support to the July Julie Band, as part of the Tribute to Sandy Denny Tour. One not to miss. 

                       The immaculate and amazing Guest Band Iota then delivered a pulsating first set to take us up to the interval. We'd seen Anna Ryder in The Queen's Hall before but this was Marion Fleetwood,Sally Barker and Anna.. Each one individually a musical enigma and a fine vocal talent. Collectively, with some finely crafted arrangements and wonderful harmonies, the trio set out their impressive stall. It was clear from the onset, we were in for a memorable night. No wonder a bit of a Legend,Gordon Giltrap turned up to see them

                After an interval,during which Harvey entertained  startled onlookers by producing a stage ladder and climbing up it with a microphone to check the lighting rig. Nunc warmed the audience back up again with "How Long Blues," "Vigilante Man" and a version of "Knocking On Heaven's Door" which featured the best audience singing an NFC crowd can muster. Racing through the Raffle (thank you for donations) we eagerly sat back to enjoy another powerful set from Iota. Culminating in two emotional and powerful encores"You Don't Know What It's Like," with the audience roaring out the choruses,and a splendidly original arrangement of "Who Knows Where The Time Goes?" 

                Who knows indeed? I had arrived,(as I often do),around 7pm, fraught,tired,depressed, anxious and apprehensive. As we left,shortly before midnight,we were both elated and still buzzing.Well done ladies:that's down to you.