With a pair of the finest albums of his career (Prodigal Son and True Stories) recorded in the past couple of years, the interest and expectation in a new studio album from Martin is always going to be high. One look at the guest list for this album and it’s obvious that the listening is in for something special.
In addition to his regular band of contributors Andy Cutting, Andy Seward and Keith Angel he’s joined by an all-star cast who to play and sing across the 13 songs including Richard Thompson, Jon Boden, BJ Cole, Dick Gaughan, June Tabor, Fay Hield and more – it’s a mouth watering castlist, and every single contributor adds and their own stamp to this collection.
Every song on the album is brought to life by the extensive and considered liner notes, there are introductions, reasoning and back story for each song – it’s becoming a lost art due to some albums being delivered in smaller and smaller packaging, but here it’s as much a part of the album as the music, and will take the reader/listener off on a real journey of discovery and it adds context to the stories and characters that make the album.
The quality of Simpson’s guitar and banjo work is as high as ever, with his distinctive rhythmic picking forming the base for the songs that are built on by the assembled musicians. Highlights include The Sheffield Apprentice, Barby Allen and Brother Can You Spare A Dime – a trio of songs that encapsulate the feel of the disc that touches songs from both the English and American traditions.
1 The Sheffield Apprentice
2 Bold General Wolfe
3 Brothers Under The Bridge
4 Little Liza Jane
5 Brother Can You Spare A Dime
6 Jamie Foyers
7 In The Pines
8 Strange Affair
9 Banjo Bill
10 Barbry Allen
11 Don’t Leave Your Banjo In The Shed Mr Waterson
12 Bad Girl’s Lament
13 Lakes Of Ponchartrain
review 10 August 2011
