Definitive Collection, The - June Tabor

Advantages: Brilliant choice of material, expertly performed
Disadvantages: None

...It would be difficult to find a better traditional British folk record than this. June Tabor's career was at its artistic peak when she recorded this in 1983, and in my opinion her voice has never come across on record as good as this, either before or since. She has achieved a fine balance of traditional and contemporary (songs by Bill Caddick, Lal Waterson and Joni Mitchell) material, and even where the songs weren't written especially for her, she makes it sound as if they were. The opener, trad song "The Month of January" sets the standard: Tabor's vocals over delicate, unobtrusive background instruments - a major plus factor for the entire disc. The modern songs, "The Scarecrow" and "She Moves Among Men" are haunting both musically and lyrically with their powerful evocations of abuse and neglect. On the latter the piano comes... Read review

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Advantages: fantastic dance music
Disadvantages: getting a copy

...and history of each instrument. Some we have lost totally except for the rare early music enthusiast. Well for whatever reason that tastes changes what you have here is some of the good old stuff. The total playing time of this CD is 66'17" tracks are:- 1, Fanfare {2'02"] 4 trumpets, timpani. 2, Passeet medio/Reprise Le Pingne [1'26"] 2 violins, 3 viols, harpsichord, lute. 3, Bergerette Sans Roch/Reprise {3'08"] 2 cornetts, 4 sackbuts, rauschpfeif3, 3 shawms, curtal, organ, regal, side drum, tambourine. 4, Den I Ronde Pour Quoy {2'02"] 2 violins, 3 viols, harpsichord, organ tabor. 5, Den VII Ronde Il estoit une filette [2'29"] 7 recorders, curtal, organ, 5 guitars, side drum. 6, Den III Ronde [1'27"] 4 viols, organ, tabor. 7, Den IV Ronde [0'44"] cornett, crumhorn... Read review

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Advantages: Great Folk Rocker Experiment
Disadvantages: None

...This album heralded a return to form for the band. The album see’s Anderson and company experimenting with English and Celtic folk rock roots. It was not folky in a traditional way and was still rockier and more quirky than the Fairport Convention type of folk rock. Nevertheless traditional folk instruments like the marimba, glockenspiel, nakers and tabor were used in the creation of this album. The album boasted a great hit which heralded Tulls last Top Of The Pops performance “Ring Out Solstice Bells” a song to appear on many a Christmas compilation album in the future.... Read review

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