SpiralEarth.co.uk reviews 2012

Here are this years reviews, we archive reviews by year going back to 2008, use the links on the right to look through all of them, or the search box in the navigation bar to find a specific review.

Moon Palace

They say everyone has one novel in them, and Joshua Caole's would certainly have a be a Steinbeckian tale populated by transient characters in need of a little solace. It was actually Paul Auster, another literary figure, who inspired the 'Moon Palace' title of Joshua's first full length release. Not hemmed in by his Cardiff home, his distinct style takes Joshua rambling across wide landscapes in search of his stories of love and despair....more

17/05/2012

Orfeo

It seems appropriate when you step up from a trio to a band to have a new name to go with it, 'The Hurricane Party' is far more evocative than the Fay Hield Band. When you hear that name the initial reaction is to wonder if there is something of Bellowhead or the Remnant Kings about this release, coming as it does from the Boden/Hield household....more

14/05/2012

The Minstrel's Grave

Not believing in biographies or many photographs leaves Sproatly Smith cloaked in anonymity. Who are these purveyors of mystical wares? And where do they come from? Well, their Facebook page merely states, 'psych folk band from Herefordshire', which is nicely succinct but hardly an explanation for the enigmatic treasures contained within 'The Minstrel's Grave'. Steeped in folklore, fans of Circulus, Trees, Comus and Telling The Bees, will be nutty to miss this album, but that's easily said, unlocking the mysteries contained within is a little trickier....more

14/05/2012

Crow

They are back! For a while it seemed like the demise of Mawkin:Causley was the death knell of the whole band, but no the Delarre brothers have summoned the Mawkin phoenix from the flames, and they sound better than ever. 'Crow' is their new collection of tunes and songs. Collaborations with Steve Knightley and Eliza Carthy are brilliant, and Mr Causley returns for a song....more

11/05/2012

Static On The Airwaves

Spiral Earth spoke to the producer of the new Levellers album 'Static On The Airwaves', Sean Lakeman, soon after he had returned from recording the album in Prague. Sean was genuinely excited about the finished product, describing it as the 'Automatic For The People' or 'OK Computer' moment for the band. Now no one is going to say their latest product is anything less than brilliant, but in this case the hyperbole seems well justified. Static On The Airwaves is the Levellers tenth album, one that connects every strand of the band's DNA placing it right up there with their best work....more

08/05/2012

Pwnco

Allan Yn Y Fan are doing much to redefine the place of Wales within Celtic music and Pwnco just makes it much bigger. in fact, the album is more like a journey around the British Isles, a whistle stop tour taking in the whole swathe of indigenous styles without being tied to any dated sense of place. As such it is a very modern album that reflects Wales in the twenty first century. ...more

08/05/2012

Simone Felice - live at The Bristol Colston Hall 28/04/12

Who carries a two thousand pound Gretsch guitar around the world to perform one number with it each evening? Simone Felice does, but when that number is 'New York Times', it makes sense. Big number = big guitar. Part political statement, part love letter, it encompasses Felice's lyrical prowess and swoonsome melodic flair. With a five part vocal harmony recreation of the main theme to finish, it packs an emotional hammer blow. ...more

01/05/2012

Anthology 1961-2007 Lost Tapes

Blind fanaticism drove John Renbourn to buy the same model of guitar as played by Davy Graham. And he freely admits when writing his own piece 'Judy' he sailed as close to Davy's style as possible. Whereas, Bert Jansch's early playing had been a facsimile of the blues and folk artists he had encountered until Davy arrived on the scene. Davy not only moved the goal posts, he tore up the whole pitch. ...more

22/04/2012

State and Ancientry

The second album from this talented and exciting duo. It is good to see them continuing their partnership as there is real chemistry in their musicianship, in the fickle world of folk collaboration duos and groups form, merge and split with depressing regularity, so it is good to see one of the best ones getting even better. ...more

15/04/2012

Show of Hands at Royal Albert Hall 2012

It is testimony to Show of Hands popularity that they can now fill the Royal Albert Hall with hardcore supporters and a steadily growing band of young and older enthusiasts, also hooked after discovering them at Folk Festivals or, more recently, on mainstream radio and television....more

12/04/2012

Jenny McCormick - Sweet Demon

Jenny McCormick is a versatile artist clearly benefiting from a vibrant Manchester scene. And with a subtly alluring voice, an obvious flare for arrangement, and a dizzying array of talented musicians at her disposal, Sweet Demon has enough for any folk fan to feast on. ...more

10/04/2012

Seth Lakeman live

Seth Lakeman has emerged from his solo recording endeavour with his latest album 'Tales From The Barrel House' reinvigorated since the split from EMI. Lakeman retreated for a while to record this album, literally from the limelight and from everyone close as he found this historical centre with the titular barrel house. It was back to basics and recording it all himself in the fashion that was so successful on Kitty Jay....more

27/03/2012

Nick Burbridge & Tim Cotterell 'Gathered'

Listening to Gathered, Nick Burbridge's latest collection of songs, as I have been doing almost constantly for a week, leads me back to another miraculous collection of songs; Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited. Last Train Home, Burbridge's Desolation Row, is the first song of this 'arrangement', whereas Dylan's ends the journey. This astonishing song, one of three or four songs of anyone's life, even has Dylanesque poet within its tableaux, presented knowingly with Bob's characteristic phrasing (though I also smell Piers Plowman in the heady mix):...more

25/03/2012

Winter Mountain - Live review

I wouldn't normally review a support act in their own right, especially ahead of the main artist's review, but Winter Mountain made such an impression supporting Seth Lakeman at the Junction , Cambridge that I feel it is only right to give them their own space. This Cornish/Irish duo of Martin Smyth and Joe Francis have been generating a swell of good word-of-mouth, being signed by Sam Lakeman and Cara Dillon for their Charcoal Records label is an impressive compliment in itself as Sam and Cara have extremely high standards. ...more

23/03/2012

The Willows 21/02/12

The Willows are a five piece from Cambridgeshire, they have only been together a couple of years but already have the feel of an act that has a deep heritage. It is refreshing to come across a band who are genuinely fresh and innovative and are not just filling themselves up at the alt-country/indie-folk waterhole. Tonight's gig was previewing songs from their imminent new album 'Beneath Our Humble Soil'....more

20/03/2012

Kim Edgar - The Ornate Lie

The Ornate Lie is about abandonment, concealment, and sexual politics. Not enough for you? Triumphing over adversity and enduring love could equally be plucked from the issues covered by Kim Edgar on this powerful, and genre-less, piece of work....more

16/03/2012

Beth Jeans Houghton - Live Review

The Louisiana in Bristol, a venue renowned for showcasing up and coming music, was one of the last stops of the Beth Jeans Houghton and the Hooves of Destiny February tour, prompted by their recently released album ‘Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose’. Despite being their debut album, the band have been touring and producing music for a number of years which explained why the small upstairs venue was packed out. ...more

08/03/2012

First Aid Kit - Rise Records, 29th February

As Swedish sibling duo First Aid Kit push their way through the crowded top floor of Rise Records a girl behind me whispers to her friend “They don’t look very happy.” Nonplussed, her companion replies; “Have you heard their music? Of course they don’t look happy.” To me, this seems like a pretty severe misreading of the band’s songwriting; the Söderberg sisters are storytellers of the everyday, tackling both bleakness and hope in equal measure. ...more

05/03/2012

New York Hummingbird - Dean Owens

How do you write radio hits with depth and soul? Ask Dean Owens is one answer. New York Hummingbird is littered with numbers which would be playlisted on a dream station alongside The Jayhawks, Josh Rouse and Elvis Costello. Heartfelt, and meticulously produced, this would be a soundtrack to the perfect night ride home....more

27/02/2012

Pied Flycatcher - Kate Doubleday

There's more than enough birds in song to compile a substantial trivia quiz: plenty of eagles, a good few blackbirds, the odd hummingbird and owl, Bert Jansch's Avocet would have to be included, and now, there would be Kate Doubleday's Pied Flycatcher. Or for bonus points, the EP's full title, 'Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula Hypoleuca)'....more

22/02/2012

Frome Folk Festival: Saturday

Eyebrows may have been raised when another West country folk festival was scheduled for the start of the year. Could another event, sandwiched between the already established and popular, Cheltenham and Bournemouth festivals, really take off? The short answer is, yes. The Frome venues, and the town, are buzzing with multi-generational crowds, who certainly don't have hibernation on their minds this winter....more

19/02/2012

Songs to Scythe back the Overgrown - Gren Bartley

It is truly heartening when young musicians suddenly burst into flower, their prowess and skill is never in doubt but at some point on their journey they produce something that is suddenly and truly them. This is what you hear on Songs to Scythe back the Overgrown. Bartley has walked the same road that many young hopefuls have, for some time he was on the folk club and festival circuit with Tom Kitching in a very successful duo. As good as he has been, it is only now that he seems to have found himself in his music....more

08/02/2012

The Fragile - O'Hooley & Tidow

It is a strange fact, but it is the really good albums that are the hardest ones to review. Belinda and Heidi are getting rave reviews and praise across the board for their follow up to 'Silent June'. Quite right too as it is an incredibly moving, deep and finely nuanced album, one that is truly the work of the duo whereas Silent June leant upon Belinda's personal back catalogue in its content....more

02/02/2012

Young Man In America - Anaïs Mitchell

The previous album from Mitchell was the epic 'Hadestown'. The Folk opera that redefined what could be achieved within the confines of a concept album. It was an incredible album that garnered huge critical acclaim and became an engrossing live performance, captivating audiences in Europe and America. It created a world of its own, and it was a staggering example of what 'folk' can encompass in its widest and most inventive form....more

30/01/2012

State Of The Union

Songwriters and guitarists beware as this is going to hurt. Somehow amongst the trillions of songs for voice and guitar, Boo Hewerdine and Brooks Williams, have penned a delightful album which may cause many a career musician to feel a little queasy....more

27/01/2012

Kris Drever with Éamonn Coyne and Megan Henderson EP

Kris Drever has never just dipped a toe into the traditional pool. His policy has always been to go skinny dipping. And, when he comes up for air, it's time for something special. For this five track EP he teams up with multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Megan Henderson of Breabach and The Sanna, and old sparring partner, the tenor banjo specialist, Éamonn Coyne....more

26/01/2012

Simone Felice

THAT VOICE! Simone Felice could seriously injure someone with that voice. How it can simultaneously contain weight of the world weariness and exultant joy is a mystery. And, like all great mysteries, we're drawn to it, like moths to a flame....more

25/01/2012

John Barleycorn Reborn: Rebirth

Rebirth is the third double CD compilation from Cold Spring Records of folk song exploring the cycles of the natural year. This was actually originally available as a download only collection but is now remastered and released on CD, with the same lavish care of the previous releases in this 'Dark Britannica' series. The series has sought out songs that celebrate seasonal birth, death and rebirth, it's the pagan cycle of nature and the seasons that our pre-industrial forebears lived their lives by....more

22/01/2012

Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston

Albums made by couples who are in love generally have just that little bit extra touch of magic about them. Miranda and Rex have been a couple for some time now, which is no news to anyone who has seen them share a stage as their connection was plain to see. Musically they are a wonderful match, Rex is a leading light in a new wave of British Bluegrass mandolin players and Miranda needs no introduction as she has toured with Show of Hands for years and possesses a cracking voice....more

18/01/2012