Well, you may ask yourself what the difference is between a CD made by SM & HJ and a CD made by HJ with SM. I am sorry to confess that I have not got a clue. Both these CDs seem to be proper duo albums, although they differ greatly when you consider the underlying feeling of each album, and in the fact that the duo are alone on the Lullabies and have brought in extra musicians for Laughing With the Moon.
Both James and Mayor are ace multi-instrumentalists, with James the owner of a fine, smooth soprano voice, and Mayor a very capable vocal harmony supplier. At the heart of their music you find mandolins in various forms and sizes, but they also play guitars, violins and bass. Between them they have produced about ten albums.
The two produce music that to me is folk music with a slight classical touch. They steer away from the rawness you find on some other albums. Instead you get the feeling that each note they play or sing is carefully planned. The mix is crystal clear. You can hear every instrument or vocal harmony. It all sounds very fresh.
Lullabies with Mandolins is exactly what the title suggests. You get a number of English nursery rhymes, such as “Lavender’s Blue,” “Over the Hills and Far Away” and “Dance to your Daddy,” all performed like lullabies. They are mixed with some tunes from classical composers such as Grieg, Vivaldi and Schubert.
My favourite track is the extended version of “Golden Slumbers” (not the Beatles version). It starts with some beautiful a cappella singing that leads 
into an instrumental passage. Stretched out over more than five minutes, it is very moving.
Laughing With the Moon is a more mixed album. There are four James compositions on it, the title track being one. It is an up-tempo song built around a Scottish tune, with the verses mixed with instrumental interludes. On this Mayor, who is mostly known as one of England’s best mandolin players, gets to shine on fiddle.
“The Reel Thing” is an instrumental that sounds more swing than reel. It has the same feel to it as Fairport’s “Woodworm Swing” and gives both James and Mayor a chance to stretch as instrumentalists.
Most of the tracks are “trad arr.” There is a beautiful version of “The Shearing’s Not For You” and a slow instrumental treatment of the old Scottish “Johnny Cope.” They have also reworked “Carolan’s Concerto” slightly and perform it at a breathtaking speed.
My favourite traditional tracks on the album are “Andrew Lammie” and “Shenandoah.” The former is an ancient ballad, performed in a slow delicate style. The latter also gets a slow treatment, with James double tracking some marvellous vocal harmonies. They really breathe new life into this much-performed song.
Hilary James and Simon Mayor have spent the last month acting as support on Fairport Convention’s winter tour in England. People have described their opening sets as a great success. From these albums I can understand why. They are not revolutionary in any way and their music will not change your life. But they are two damn good musicians playing damn good music, and that will take them a long way. Clearly worth checking out. And if you are going to buy just one of these I would recommend you start with Laughing With the Moon.
(Acoustics Records, 2004)
(Acoustics Records, 2004)
