Tag Archives: English folk music

Mary Humphreys and Anahata’s Floating Verses

Floating Verses is a gem of a CD — traditional English folk tunes played and sung by people who actually know how to play and sing and who have the scholarly background to know what they’re playing and singing. What … Continue reading

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Isambarde’s Barnstorming

If ever an album had a good title, ‘Barnstorming’ is it! This is only the second album from Isambarde and it can only serve to put them up amongst the cream of the acoustic folk bands in the world – … Continue reading

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Various artists’ John Barleycorn Reborn: Dark Brittanica

Objectivity be damned, it just can’t be done! When presented with a collection of tracks dubbed Dark Britannica, comprising two CDs that when purchased entitles you to 33 extra downloadable tracks (the equivalent of two more CDs), which collectively prove … Continue reading

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Rev Hammer’s Freeborn John Live (CD/DVD)

Each year, I get to listen to literally hundreds of folk music CDs and every now and then along comes a real gem. This is one of them! I remember back in the ’70s getting my hands on a vinyl … Continue reading

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Jim Causley’s Fruits of the Earth

Jim Causley is a relatively new name on the UK folk scene. He is a young man in his twenties who shows a lot of promise, singing fine old English traditional folk songs. At least, that is what he presents … Continue reading

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The Kathryn Tickell Band’s Air Dancing

In a far distant past (1986) I saw the then very young Kathryn Tickell charm an audience at Sidmouth Folk Festival with her Northumbrian pipes and her fiddle. She was named as one of the bright hopes for the future … Continue reading

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Jim Moray’s Sweet England

Lenora Rose contributed this review. I had just managed to wheedle the editor into letting me review this CD a day or two before the BBC Radio 2 2004 Folk Award Winners were announced — and Jim Moray collected both … Continue reading

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Waterson:Carthy’s Common Tongue

This review was contributed by Alistair Brown. To embark on yet another review of the offerings of England’s foremost folk ensemble, Waterson:Carthy, is a bit like putting a pebble on top of the great pyramid of Cheops. It adds to … Continue reading

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June Tabor’s An Echo of Hooves

If anyone could pull off a whole album full of dark dismal ballads it must be June Tabor. And she certainly proves it on this album. Tabor stirred up a lot of interest with her debut album, Airs and Graces, in … Continue reading

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An omnibus review of midwinter holiday music

Ensemble Galilei’s A Winter’s Night: Christmas in the Great Hall; St. Agnes Fountain’s Acoustic Carols for Christmas, and Comfort & Joy; Various artists’ Oh Christmas Tree: A Bluegrass Collection for the Holidays And how do you approach your midwinter holiday? It … Continue reading

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