From A Compound Eye - Robert Pollard

Advantages: Beautiful Lyrics, Beautiful Stories
Disadvantages: Romantics and lovers of fantasy ONLY

...Both Kathryn Roberts and Kate Rusby are superb as far as musical talent go. Rusby's sweet nightingale like Irish lilt compliments perfectly Roberts' sultry deep and husky tones. But what I appreciate and adore most of all about their collaborations is this: When you listen to a song, it is not just a tune or a melody. The lyrics are almost always a story or tale in its entirety and serves to be a pleasurable experience but of the eyes and of the mind, with the images it conjours. The time zone ranges from Medieval to Renaissance to modern day... but all are captivating. My personal Favourite Tracks are 'Recruited Collier' 'The Queen and the Soldier' 'Constant Lovers' and 'Plains of Waterloo'. To truly appreciate the beauty of this CD you have to have an interest in ye olde celtic /englishe history, myth or legends. However, anyone... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Two beautiful female folk singers
Disadvantages: There are only 10 songs

...The first CD from Kate Rusby appeared in 1995 in conjunction with Kathryn Roberts (lead singer with the band Equation who also include Seth Lakeman amongst their number). This album is a collection of 10 great traditional folk songs with all songs arranged by the girls. The songs are mainly about relationships where men go off to fight in wars and the women sit at home waiting for them. The album listing is: 1: Recruited Collier 2.: Ned On The Hill 3.: Lorry Ride 4.: Queen And The Soldier 5.: Courting Is A Pleasure 6.: Constant Lovers 7.: Dark Eyed Sailor 8.: Hunting The Hare 9.: Plains Of Waterloo 10.: Exile Personally my favourite songs are The Queen and the Soldier rearranged from Suzanne Vega's original and brilliantly sung by Ms Roberts and Plains of Waterloo where again Ms Roberts hauntings lyrics... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: guitar
Disadvantages: none

...This album was written and directed by Ry Cooder, the awesome one eyed slide guitarist. The album is predominantly mississippi delta blues in different speeds and styles. The first tune (crossroads – a reworking of the robert johnson number) is a fine upbeat version and there is also some good base vocalists in amongst the singers. The pick for me is track 8 (feelin’ bad blues). This shows ry cooder at his slide guitar best, creating a reverberating and atmospheric sound. It is strange that they seem to have missed off some of the great tunes from the film, but the album is still good for any one who likes blues.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful