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My own personal folk heaven.

Advantages: Inspirational playing, clever arrangements, and a purity of purpose.
Disadvantages: Probably not for everyone.

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, ...
...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 ...

RowanBirtwater 27.10.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Penguin Eggs - Nic Jones

Scottish meets Salsa??? It can't be!

Advantages: Passionate music that will have you dancing all night! They've been in films to!
Disadvantages: Would have been better to have more tracks

...lively and passionate music) 2. El Sol De La noche (Meaning the Midnight sun, a very traditonal love song with a salsa twist) 3. Guajira Sin Sol (Starts of slow and acoustic then goes immediately into jazz) 4. Elaugua De La Vida (Meaning: Water Of Life. The most scottish song, one of my favorites, it plays an accordion with a jazz band!) 5. Whisky Con Ron (The most relaxing one and calmest. It has alot of folk and jazz, if you know spanish, it ...
...sun!) 6. Ave Maria De Escolia Medley (Meaning:Hail Mary of Scotland Medley. This has every genre mentioned playing from acousitc, to folk to jazz to scottish!) 7. Maestro (Meaning:Maestro. The jazziest song on the album. The voice talent are incredible with this one) 8. Adios Adios (Meaning:Farewell Farewell. A piano playing althrough this one and singing with a jazz drum beat in the backround. A love song with a calm beat) 9. Auld Lang Syne ...

scotlandizdabest 13.08.2007 · Read full review
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Review of El Agua De La Vida - Salsa Celtica

Talent & Originality in 'Traditional' Folk Duo

Advantages: Cara's beautifully clear voice
Disadvantages: Starts to sound a little samey after a while.

I first heard Cara Dillon's songbird voice on Radio 2's folk night and was stunned by its clarity and pitch. Her voice really is a delight to listen to - and rest assured, having seen her perform live I can vouch that it is not 'computer-enhanced' but completely natural. The folk and folk-style tunes are either written by or arranged by Cara's partner Sam Lakeman who accompanies her on piano and guitar. The arrangements are unique and interesting, ...
...is the Colour, to which Cara brings life and a breath of fresh air. I feel I must applaud the talent of Sam Lakeman, whose name should have been alongside Cara's on this album, as I believe it is his accomplished arranging and producing talents that truly make this album, but neither can Cara's stunning Irish voice be dismissed out of hand! Other notable tracks: Green Grows the Laurel - another highly original arrangement, and Lark in the Clear ...

lizdavies 08.01.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Cara Dillon - Cara Dillon

Introducing... Warsaw Village Band ~ 'Uprooting'

Advantages: Exciting; unique; passionate; challenging
Disadvantages: Well, it's in Polish, so some may find that a disadvantage...

In recent years, the little-known Warsaw Village Band have risen from obscurity to earn some much deserved recognition, playing several high-profile festivals including Glastonbury 09, and even clinching the Best Newcomer award at the BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards in 2004. 'Uprooting' is a fine example of the band's capability, and also of their potential to grow and continue. Comprising six young musicians from Poland's capital, the band blend ...
...passionate and hypnotising set of tracks which should be essential listening for any music fan. I had the honour of first hearing the band when they performed at Musicport Festival 2008, a very surreal experience indeed as they were supporting Rolf Harris! Their set consisted of many of the tracks from 'Uprooting'. The performance put on by the band was both aurally and visually stunning, in part due to their incorporation in their music of many ...

littlewiggle 25.11.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Uprooting - Warsaw Village Band

'JOANNA...A Hymn of Devotion

Advantages: incredibly underrated music very well produced and presented
Disadvantages: none

...Devotion’ James Young's Joanna was made on the battered upright piano in his house - an instrument most pianists would reject without a moment's hesitation. Bad pianos - in pubs, bars, clubs, cafes and the parental home - are the bane of musicians and music teachers: the sustain pedal doesn't work; the felts are worn; mezzopiano is indistinguishable from fortissimo. And that's before you get on to the problem of keeping it in tune. Players develop ...
...wisdom on its head. Joanna is a hymn of devotion that both dignifies and delights in his old piano's imperfections. As Billy Jenkins wrote in Notes on Crap Pianos: "Years of warp and deterioration have ripened each mechanical artefact into its own unique sound. Do not attempt music scored for a good piano." Young describes his piano as "a ready-made that needed to be celebrated for its intrinsic peculiarities". There are antecedents: Virginia Astley's ...

JLWguardian 28.10.2009 · Read full review

Review of Joanna - James Young