Hello! This page is part of an opinionated overview of Celtic and British folk music, with record reviews by me, Joe Sixpack... This is not meant to be taken as a "definitive" resource, but rather as a record of some of the music which has caught my interest. I am always looking for more good music to explore, so your comments and suggestions are welcome.
John James "Sky In My Pie" (Transatlantic, 1972)
John James "Head In The Clouds" (Transatlantic, 1975)
This single-disc reissue features two albums of obscure instrumental acoustic guitar music by Welsh guitarist John James. The first album, Pie In My Sky features duets with guitarist Peter Berryman, many with a choppy, blues-informed style that doesn't quite have the expansiveness or imaginative breadth of, say, John Fahey or Leo Kottke, although it is still quite nice. (Certainly better than anything I could play...) By his second album, though, James had grown considerably, and the melodies and phrasing are much, much richer. Underscoring this growth, one of the masters of the genre, John Renbourn, joins him on three of the album's tracks, and these duets are indeed quite lovely. Guitar music fans will find this disc of note.
Bert Jansch "Young Man Blues -- Live In Glasgow: 1962-1964" (Ace/Big Beat, 1998)
Riveting, but markedly lo-fi recordings made in the folk clubs of Glasgow, shortly before Jansch's first recording sessions with Transatlantic, and his climb to fame as a founding member of Pentangle. He's a little rough and speedy in these early days, but clearly someone at the top of his scene, exuding confidence and brash self-assurance... all of which is justified by his complex, rugged guitar playing. Singing acoustic blues with a forceful American accent, Jansch has more than a whiff of the earnest '60s folkie about him, but he's also clearly a star. These tapes were made by a 14-year old fan, and are definitely an amatuer production, with Jansch's vocals consistenly undermiked and the guitar blunted by overmodulation... but even with the rough spots, it's a blessing to be able to hear them.
Bert Jansch "Lucky Thirteen" (Transatlantic, 1969)
Possibly the best of Jansch's classic solo albums, this features his crackling version of Davy Graham's "Angie," the groundbreaking instrumental number that all English folkies had to master to show their mettle during the '60s folk revival. Other songs on here match the mood and musical level of that tune, including a brace of transposed American folks tunes, and the mournful "Needle Of Death," one of the earlier folk scene reflections on the dangers of heroin addiction. This is a masterful album, pretty and persuasive at the same time. Recommended!
Bert Jansch "Rosemary Lane" (Transatlantic, 1971)
A solo album in every sense of the word, this features Jansch in a series of solo acoustic songs that touch as lightly on traditional themes as they do on his lingering blues leanings. Indeed, this is more of a contemporary folk album than anything else, with a rumbling grace that presaged the more melodic direction Nic Jones would turn to in later years. On the whole this is a lovely album, although it must be admitted that a few tracks -- "Nobody's Bar" and "Silly Woman," in particular -- ring false and are a bit stiff. Mostly, though, this is a record that's well worth looking for.
Bert Jansch "Toy Balloon" (Cooking Vinyl, 1998)
A playful, masterful, delightfully varied album while highlights all of Jansch's best personas... The acoustic blues true believer; the aging folkie balladeer who's been around the block and has nothing to prove, really, and the '60s old-timer who can actually play goofy, upbeat electric boogie blues yet not blow it completely... For me, the best tracks on here are the softer, soulful/mystical acoustic tunes -- and they are not thrown off-balance by the rest of the record. A surprisingly strong, cohesive album for someone who's been around for so long. Highly recommended, and worth searching for.
The Johnstons "Give A Damn/Bitter Green" (Transatlantic, 1969)
Two late '60s albums by this influential British folk band, which in its early years included Paul Brady and Mick Moloney along with the Johnston Sisters, Luci and Adrienne. Give A Damn, recorded at the end of 1968, tackles social issues and folkie poetic yearnings in a rather clumsy manner, with the sisters warbling away in a most Judy Collins-ish fashion. The repertoire is ambitously chosen, though a bit lofty and quite modern: new tunes by Joni Mitchell and Dave Cousins, a couple of songs by Jacques Brel and Mort Schuman, a stab at traditionalism via Ewan MacColl, even a bit of Leonard Cohen. This is more of a modern "folk" album in the American mould, stretching towards the artsy singer-songwriter end of the spectrum and, frankly, a bit irritating and pretentious. Brady emerges a bit from the background on the next album -- although he's still not credited as a songwriter, he and Moloney help adapt some traditional tunes, and Brady's rich vocal style comes through on a couple of more Celtic-oriented songs, and this handful of songs are the real heart of these albums. This twofer reissue omits a couple of tunes from the original albums, and mysteriously opts to add a B-side from one of their singles -- probably no one but the most diehard of purists will even notice.
Bill Jones "Panchpuran" (Compass, 2001)
Why... choke! sputter...!! This here Bill Jones fellow is actually a girl!! While she doesn't have quite the vocal oompf of Niahm Parsons, or the sweetness of tone of, say, Kate Rusby, Jones is certainly no sloutch in the folkloric department, having picked out some of the oddest story-songs and variant forms I've heard in a while. Her voice is a little chirpy, but the songs are nice, including both Celtic and English material. Worth checking out!
Bill Jones "Turn To Me" (Compass, 2002)
Jones continues to dazzle on this start-to-finish stunner. Plenty of great songs -- both old and new -- and the young lady has a very appealing voice. Highly recommended!
Bill Jones "Two Year Winter" (Compass, 2003)
Amazingly, Jones just picks up greater depth and resonance as she goes along... This two CD set -- one disc of twelve sad, fabulous songs, and an additional four-song "Bits And Pieces" disc that sounds much like the first -- is a rich and rewarding listen, with a reflective, doleful air that is sustained over its entire length. he set has more emphasis on new compositions, by Jones herself and contemporaries such as Pete Morton, Anne Hills and Brian Bedford, and though there is less trad. arr. material, the entire album has a deep, old-world feel to it. What else can I say? This is another really great record, easily the equal of the Jones albums reviewed above. Trad fans should snap it up.
Nic Jones - see artist profile
Martyn Joseph "Whoever It Was That Brought Me Here Will Have To Take Me Home" (Appleseed/Pipe, 2004)
Gentle, well-sculpted, tuneful folk music... Not "folk" as in English trad as much as folk in the confessional, singer-songwriter-y sense... While this is a little too dense, anguished and flowery for me, I still was enchanted my Joseph's knack for developing catchy hooks, and several of these songs can really catch in your brain, notably "Wake Me Up" and "Every Little Sign." Joseph, who is known in part for his socially-oriented political material, reins it in a bit for this introspective, emotional album. It's still more for the contemporary folkie crowd, but quite nice all the same.
JSD Band "Travelling Days" (Warner Brothers, 1973)
A pleasant, notably eclectic, folk-rock release by this under-remembered Irish band. The tracks vary widely from straight-ahead trad to mellow acoustic blues and clompy Celtic folk, as well as few dreamier pop tunes that wouldn't be out of place on a Teenage Fanclub album. A pity so little of the old JSD Band material is available on CD... From what I've heard, they seem to have been pretty darn good. This disc is sure worth looking for!
