Hourglass - Kate Rusby

Rather a morbid title I realise, but it is in fact one of the tracks from what has proved to be quite a good album. Being something of a folk devotee, I had approached Kate Rusby with scepticism - she's 'made it' into normal music outlets, which must mean she has sold out and just done an album of easy listening? Well not actually quite true. This is certainly the sort of album that non-folkies might get along with, but its true to some good traditional ...
...be 'proper' folk - spend any time in a folk club and you soon find that most of the traditional songs are about sex and/or death (except for the ones about fishing, but there it is.)

"Sir Eglamore" an old, and rather silly song about a knight and a dragon, set to music by Kate. It has all the 'lanky down dillies' you could possibly ask for in a folk song, (I have no idea how anyone sings anything like that whilst keeping ... more

Rather a morbid title I realise, but it is in fact one of the tracks from what has proved to be quite a good album. Being something of a folk devotee, I had approached Kate Rusby with scepticism - she's 'made it' into normal music outlets, which must mean she has sold out and just done an album of easy listening? Well not actually quite true. This is certainly the sort of album that non-folkies might get along with, but its true to some good traditional roots as well.
It's certainly morbid eough to be 'proper' folk - spend any time in a folk club and you soon find that most of the traditional songs are about sex and/or death (except for the ones about fishing, but there it is.)

"Sir Eglamore" an old, and rather silly song about a knight and a dragon, set to music by Kate. It has all the 'lanky down dillies' you could possibly ask for in a folk song, (I have no idea how anyone sings anything like that whilst keeping a straight face.)

"As I roved out" This is a traditional song about a lad who married for money and comes to regret it. I like the tune for this one a great deal, and Kate carries it well.

"Jolly Plough Boys." I have no idea why plough boys are generally considered to be jolly, it may well have something to do with the quaffing of strong cider! A traditional song that realy isn't that exciting.

"Annan Waters." This is a really classic ballad of love tragically ended by bloke drowning in river. It's quite a challenging one to take on, being both quite long and very intense. Fair play to Kate Rusby for doing a very good version of a difficult song.

"Stananivy/Jack and Jill" The first is a tune, and quite a lively and pleasing tune it is too. The second is a dinky little song based loosely on the nursery rhymne.

"A Rose in April" Another classic folk story - girl falls in love with bloke, girl sleeps with bloke, member of girl's family finds them and kills bloke, girl announces that she has every intention of following him into the grave. I could have readily believed this was a traditional song, but it is actually written by Kate Rusby!

"Radio Sweethearts" This is a modern song - Miller/McCusker, and has a bit of a country feel to it I thought - it doesn't quite seem to fit with the rest of the album.

"I am stretched on your grave" I tink this is my favourite track, and it's superb - another tale of lovers parted by death, with a haunting tune (Rusby's I think) and some poignant lyrics.

"Old Man Time" This is another one of Kate's own, and very good it is too.

"Drowned Lovers" Another traditional one with quite an eerie guitar accompaniment to a very eerie song - a young man announces his intention to go to his lovers house, but his rather sinister mother threatens/curses/fortells him with drowning if he goes. The story unfolds from there. (and they both end up drowned.)There's a nice flute solo which breaks up the story neatly.

"Bold Riley" This is more the sort of song you might associate with big beardy blokes with big voices, strange to hear it sung so softly, but it does seem to work.

On the whole this is a good album. Having played it to a few friends, I have discovered that people who aren't used to folk find Kate's voice odd. In folk, regional accents are usual, but in popular music, we tend to hear either American accents or fairly neutral voices. Kate has a strong regional accent (which I can't place) and if you aren't used to listening to such things, you may find it a touch strange. I would recomend giving this album a go - there's a lot going for it. It makes a good introduction to folk for the uninitiated, and anyone who likes the genre may well enjoy Kate Rusby's sweet singing.
 

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