I didn’t expect to like this all that much. Vague memories had filed this under ‘No thanks’ but actually I only got half way through ‘Spotted Cow’ before I was sitting up and taking note. It is Middle Age England with a twist but what you get is a classy display of Maddy Prior’s vocals and indeed the additional band members which are stunning and accompany the music beautifully.
They were a prolific recording and touring band (still are – in fact as I write this they are appearing in Cardigan tonight) and there is a consistency with this record in so far as every track is simply top notch.
Yes you will either like the music or not but as a modern lift on folk, this really is one to add to the collection. As someone wrote it’s an easy introduction into folk music. You aren’t buying it for ‘Gaudete’ which was their only hit (surely recorded away from a studio as the haunting depth of the vocal transports you to a place of worship in an instant), you are buying it for a consistent dip into electronic folk bought to you by a talented bunch of musicians. I really enjoyed ‘King Henry’ and ‘Spotted Cow’ but for me the stand out track appears right at the end. If this was played at the end of a live show, and you aren’t warmed to the belly by the play out of ‘Saucy sailor’ then there is no hope for you. Your soul is damaged and surrounded by barbed wire. It is a beautiful, simple, engaging song that epitomises the heart of this band.
