James Yorkston & The Big Eyes Family Players – Folk Songs (Domino).
James Yorkston takes a break from his usual band The Athletes and teams up with The Big Eyes Family Players to release an album of traditional folk songs, done the Yorkston way. The opener, Hills Of Greenmoor, is Lo-Fi folk and will bring a new wave of interest in the genre. As with a number of the songs on this album, Yorkston first heard it sung by Anne Briggs. Just As The Tide Was Flowing has melancholy and gentle tones. Very short, like most of the songs on the album, at just over 2 minutes. James Green of The Big Eyes Family Players says it leaves you with feelings of longing and sadness and resignation – not a barrel of laughs then. Martimas Time is another Anne Briggs one. It’s Old English and has been recorded often. Yorkston’s plaintive vocal is off set by gentle backing from the band. Mary Connaught & James O’Donnell has a bit of a faster pace with even a drumbeat! Irish tune but Yorkston has replaced the melody with one of his own. Thorneymoor Woods has an eerie opening and is a poacher’s song. Quintessential English folk with harmonium and too-ra-eh’s but don’t expect a lively tune though.
I Went To Visit The Roses is another Irish one. Interesting harmonium on this one – it was found on an Edinburgh street and has mouse proof pedals!! Pandeirade de Entrimo is a Galician instrumental which is led by the violin and recorded by Yorkston before on his The Lang Toun single. It’s a bit of a Tango in its execution and has a very Latin feel. Little Musgrave is from the 16th century, at least. It’s often been changed and Yorkston has changed it again – it’s such an organic song. Rufford Park Poachers is another that Yorkston has changed the melody on. He learned it during his many long train journeys but couldn’t replicate the guitar from the Nic Jones version that he was learning it from. Sovay is a famous old song and this is such a sorrowful version of it. A tale of a woman who dresses up as a highwayman and robs her own man, as if you didn’t know. Low Down In The Broom is a galloping finish and was rattled off in a day at the end of recording. I’m so glad that they had time and energy left to do this because it’s one of the album’s highlights.
http://www.jamesyorkston.co.uk/
http://www.dominorecordco.com/
David Blue.
James Yorkston takes a break from his usual band The Athletes and teams up with The Big Eyes Family Players to release an album of traditional folk songs, done the Yorkston way. The opener, Hills Of Greenmoor, is Lo-Fi folk and will bring a new wave of interest in the genre. As with a number of the songs on this album, Yorkston first heard it sung by Anne Briggs. Just As The Tide Was Flowing has melancholy and gentle tones. Very short, like most of the songs on the album, at just over 2 minutes. James Green of The Big Eyes Family Players says it leaves you with feelings of longing and sadness and resignation – not a barrel of laughs then. Martimas Time is another Anne Briggs one. It’s Old English and has been recorded often. Yorkston’s plaintive vocal is off set by gentle backing from the band. Mary Connaught & James O’Donnell has a bit of a faster pace with even a drumbeat! Irish tune but Yorkston has replaced the melody with one of his own. Thorneymoor Woods has an eerie opening and is a poacher’s song. Quintessential English folk with harmonium and too-ra-eh’s but don’t expect a lively tune though.
I Went To Visit The Roses is another Irish one. Interesting harmonium on this one – it was found on an Edinburgh street and has mouse proof pedals!! Pandeirade de Entrimo is a Galician instrumental which is led by the violin and recorded by Yorkston before on his The Lang Toun single. It’s a bit of a Tango in its execution and has a very Latin feel. Little Musgrave is from the 16th century, at least. It’s often been changed and Yorkston has changed it again – it’s such an organic song. Rufford Park Poachers is another that Yorkston has changed the melody on. He learned it during his many long train journeys but couldn’t replicate the guitar from the Nic Jones version that he was learning it from. Sovay is a famous old song and this is such a sorrowful version of it. A tale of a woman who dresses up as a highwayman and robs her own man, as if you didn’t know. Low Down In The Broom is a galloping finish and was rattled off in a day at the end of recording. I’m so glad that they had time and energy left to do this because it’s one of the album’s highlights.
http://www.jamesyorkston.co.uk/
http://www.dominorecordco.com/
David Blue.
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