efn Reviews

I twitched a little at the “New Age” feel of the cover artwork and put this on the CD player wondering how I was going to review it. I need not have worried, I was totally blown away as soon as it started. This is English traditional song with accompaniment that could have come from David Monrow.

Sand is accompanied by five musicians on this album playing a mixture of instruments including crumhorns, recorders and hurdy-gurdy. The songs are all traditional as are all but one of the tunes.

There really is nothing here to fault, the blend of influences is fascinating and in the one French song La Porte au Palais they tease the listener with snatches of various tunes between the verses. I know that I should have recognised more than I did.

After the powerful opening with the title track we switch to a more lyrical setting of the song famous for starting Vaughan Williams' collecting career in Ingrave, Bushes and Briars. The Sussex song Low Down in the Broom gets an estampie between the verses while Cob A-Coaling sounds pretty straight forward but is paired with a lovely farandole.

I could go on about the remaining tracks in the same vein. I must say that my inner pedant was a little upset about the anachronistic use of the crumhorn with Rigs of the Time but it works and its great. This CD just injects so much excitement into traditional song that I just can't find enough superlatives.

Buy it now, you won't regret it.

Track Listing

1. SUSIE FAIR
2. BUSHES AND BRIARS
3. A LA PORTE AU PALAIS
4. LOW DOWN IN THE BROOM
5. COB A-COALING
6. DANCE TO YOUR DADDY
7. THE RIGS OF THE TIME
8. A ROSEBUD IN JUNE
9. THE BANKS OF SWEET MOSSOM
10. SAILOR LADDIE
11. IF I WERE A BLACKBIRD
12. LES GARCONS DE MONTAGNE