After 10 years together Bellowhead have switched to the Island label (distributed by Universal))
Probably the most accessible and ‘commercial’ release to date and clearly aimed at mainstream radio play. That said it what you would expect with rousing full band arrangements of traditional songs – that will be strong additions to their live concert repertoire. Although there is an interesting version of Richard Thompson ‘I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight’ which for me doesn't quite work and they are probably better sticking to their tried and trusted formula. For all the changs of label , producers etc they have still yet to better their 2006 release Burlesque. A number of their more recent back catalogue are currently on special offer.
4 star review from Robin Denselow in The Guardian
Bellowhead: Revival review – folk big band's most commercial album yet
Island Records have finally remembered that they were one of the great folk labels of the 1970s, and are now trying to catch up with the current revival. Signing Bellowhead was an obvious, but shrewd move, especially as they have teamed up with U2 and Coldplay arranger Rupert Christie to make their most commercial album to date. The formula remains the same, with traditional songs reworked with rousing big-band arrangements, and from furious opener Let Her Run to the rock-influenced Greenwood Side, they sound slicker and more confident than ever. And there are surprises. Moon Kittens is an exercise in brooding, surreal folk psychedelia, based on the nursery rhyme We're All in the Dumps, while I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight is a revival of the bittersweet Richard & Linda Thompson classic, recorded for Island in 1974, and now treated to rapid-fire brass backing.
(20-06-13)