Artist: VA
Title: Under One Sky-The Songs EP
Label: Navigator
Genre: Folk
Bitrate: 156kbit av.
Time: 00:23:57
Size: 28.28 mb
Rip Date: 2008-12-15
Str Date: 2009-02-02
1. John Tams - Hush A Bye 5:04
2. Julie Fowlis - 'S Tusa Thilleas 5:59
3. Graham Coxon - All Has Gone 4:55
4. Roddy Woomble - Lavender Hill 3:51
5. Jim Causley - Will I See Thee More 4:08
Release Notes:
"Under One Sky" is a collaboration between John McCusker of
Battlefield Band fame and twelve other artists from England
and Scotland. This review refers to the promo 'The Songs' EP
taken from the forthcoming Under One Sky album.
The distinctive and elegant fiddle playing of John McCusker is
the thread that runs through and connects the five tracks
which are otherwise quite different in style.
The strength of the album is in the complementarity of
McCusker's sound with that of the other performers. His
instrumental work is familiar from solo albums such as Yella
Hoose, his collaborations with Kate Rusby and earlier with
Battlefield Band. The most similar track to his previous work
is the soothing 'S Tusa Thilleas', performed in Gaelic with
Julie Fowlis. In contrast, John Tams and Jim Causely perform
essentially mainstream English folk songs which are lifted by
the fiddle backing.
An unusual aspect to the EP is the participation of Graham
Coxon (ex-Blur) and Roddy Woomble (Idlewild). This works to a
variable extent. 'Lavender Hill' with Woomble is a neat
combination of vocals and fiddle while 'All Has Gone' (Coxon)
seems a little out of place in the album with its bass rhythm
and odd vocals. This is a really interesting and novel sound
and I'll be waiting keenly to hear the main album 'Under one
Sky'.