a r t i s t : Show of Hands
t i t l e : Covers
d a t e : 2000
l a b e l : Hands on Music
g e n r e : Folk
r l s. d a t e : Aug/2009
t r a c k s : 13
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 60,3 MB
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I first heard Show of Hands on "Folk On 2", back when the
knowledgeable Jim Lloyd could be relied upon to keep you up-
to-date; it was a fine version of "Bonnie Light Horseman" from
their first album, "Live '92". Excellent reviews resulted in
extensive appearances at festivals the following year and a
tour with Ralph McTell. Steve Knightley and Phil Beer were on
their way.
Since then, I've observed their inexorable rise from the fine
club act they always were (to their credit, they still play
the smaller venues) into the phenomenon which filled the
Albert Hall in 1996. Each successive album was a winning mix
of Knightley's own well-crafted songs, carefully-selected
material from the best contemporary songwriters and
traditional material, culminating in the polished "Dark
Fields", whose "thoughtful lyricism and mood shifts" impressed
even the hard-boiled Daily Telegraph reviewer.
I've wished sometimes that 'Britain's foremost acoustic group'
would do more of the traditional material which they interpret
so effectively, much as I've regretted the squandering of Roy
Bailey's fine tenor on contemporaneous whimsy. Perhaps that's
why I approached the new album, on which 'trad.' appears only
once, with trepidation. Unjustifiably, as it turns out; Beer
and Knightley have assembled an eclectic collection ranging
from Tom Robinson to Bob Dylan. There's a gutsy version of
Lowell George's 'Willin'' and a sensitive reading of Ian
Anderson's 'Wond'ring Aloud'. Mike Chapman's lament to a lost
love, 'No Song To Sing', is complemented by Ralph McTell's
leaving song, 'The Setting', skilfully interwoven with 'Mary
From Dungloe'. Peter Gabriel's 'Don't Give Up' is genuinely
moving, and the album concludes triumphantly with an acoustic
'Waterloo Sunset'.
If you're a fan you're bound to enjoy this CD, superbly
produced as usual by Gerard O'Farrell. Even if you're not,
it's unlikely that you'll be less than impressed.
(www.folkmusic.net)
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01-Wond'ring Aloud [02:09]
02-Rigging it Up Duncannon [03:17]
03-Willin' [03:38]
04-No Song to Sing [04:50]
05-Corrina, Corrina [03:01]
06-The Setting [03:36]
07-The Downeaster 'alexa' [03:09]
08-Fake Plastic Trees [04:48]
09-Is Your Love in Vain [03:01]
10-Courting is A Pleasure [05:00]
11-Roaring Water Bay [03:52]
12-Don't Give Up [05:17]
13-Waterloo Sunset [03:57]
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49:35 min