Nic Jones has always been in the background of my life. From my earliest days we had a cassette tape of this fine album on our trips to the Lake District, and Nic's sonorous tones make that landscape come alive.
Regarded by many folkies as Nic's best album, this was recorded at the zenith ... Read review
A review by RowanBirtwater on Penguin Eggs - Nic Jones October 27th, 2008
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
Flawless
Value for Money
Excellent
Advantages:
Inspirational playing, clever arrangements, and a purity of purpose .
Disadvantages:
Probably not for everyone .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Nic Jones has always been in the background of my life. From my earliest days we had a cassette tape of this fine album on our trips to the Lake District, and Nic's sonorous tones make that landscape come alive.
Regarded by many folkies as Nic's best album, this was recorded at the zenith of his career, just two years before his tragic car accident. Unable to play since then, subsequent releases have been taken from live recordings at gigs and festivals, but this studio album captures the intricacy of his playing and arrangements at their peak.
On Nic's playing, I have to say something that may sound over-enthusiastic. His ability to play rhythm and melody simultaneously is hard to match, even today. The depth of sound his guitar style creates is simply spell-binding, especially on his Canadee-I-O.
Much of this album is related to the sea in one shape or another, and creates highly evocative images of the hardships of cold (The Little Pot Stove) and the dangers of the sea (The Drowned Lovers). There are the obligatory stories of forbidden and lost loves, but all told with a sensational emotional intelligence.
Now, for non-folkies, I can't say this is going to appeal especially. This music is pretty much at the heart of the 60s/70s folk revival, and as such it may not have appeal to a wider listenership. But current folk starlets such as Kate Rusby and Jackie Oates cite him as a major influence on their own music. So for the historiography of folk, this is a purist's dream.
With a better singing voice than Martin Carthy (not too hard) and sublime arrangements of traditional songs, Nic Jones has entered into folk legend. If you want to know what the fuss is about, you'll have to hear him. If you're scared of woollen jumpers, you'll be more appreciative of modern folkies like Rusby and Seth Lakeman. But Nic's influence is present in every bit of their music.
Album Notes: Until a crippling accident in the '80s, Jones was an integral part of the second British folk revival that included artists like the Oyster Band and Pete Morton. PENGUIN EGGS, his only domestically available recording, shows Jones to be a staunch traditionalist, but he comes off as anything but stodgy. Rather, he plumbs the emotional depths of traditional folk songs like "The Drowned Lovers" and "Courting is a Pleasure" for all they're worth. His steady, forceful guitar worked--slightly indebted to Martin Carthy--and his earnest but humble vocal style invest these timeless tunes with just the right touch of modern personality. Though he was never less than faithful to the original spirit of these songs, it's easy to see why he was viewed as a breath of fresh air in the British folk world.
Titles on disc 1
1.: Canadee I O
2.: Drowned Lovers
3.: Humpback Whale
4.: Little Pot Stove
5.: Courting Is A Pleasure
6.: Barrack Street
7.: Planxty Davis
8.: Flandyke Shore
9.: Farewell To The Gold
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