HUNGRYTOWN May/June 2012 UK Tour

This week, will see Hungrytown once again touring the UK. If you missed our coverage of their second album release “Any Forgotten Thing” first time around, then check out the feature in the folking archive here  - http://wp.me/p10Ohn-nd

So then, now you have caught up, you will know that Hungrytown is populated by the acclaimed songwriting and performing talents husband and wife team Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson.

Any Forgotten Thing was a real folking hit, containing deceptively simple compositions—many of which get mistaken for traditional ballads, which may sound bright and breezy on first listen, but when you get under the skin of them, most leave you with themes of loss or disillusionment. To give you a flavour of the quality of material here, we have included the opening track below, a slow, majestic waltz entitled

Tom Napper & Tom Bliss – The Kelping

Originally posted on folking.com 26-May-2005

I had the utter delight of seeing this duo play at the Ho at Anchor, in Leigh-on-Sea and they wove magic for me that night. The magic was in the stories that they told before and during playing. It made me listen harder and instilled a greater understanding of the legends they were creating.

At the time I bought “The Silverlode” and played it non-stop and still refer back to it regularly. Because every time I listen to it I’m reminded of the enchantment that’s still there, created in my mind and reinforced in the music. 

Jamie Marshall – Here After

Jamie Marshall - a new shining light in acoustic music releases his latest album ‘Here After’ - an album mixed by the legendary John Wood. The opening track ‘She is in me’ straight away sets the pace and feel of the album which left me with a high expectations. I was not disappointed – Jamie’s voice resonates an earth-like quality and The Judas Tree is the perfect example of this with its beautiful introspective sentiments. Vagabond Heart takes you on a virtual tour of Robbie Robertson New Orleans, a song that truly deserves to take pride of place on one of those drive time compilation albums. Jamie has been compared to John Martyn, Mark Cohn, Chris Rea and Van Morrison but for me these comparisons are more like sound bites or snippets of a particular mood or style. This however is part of the appeal, the fact that Marshall’s catchy guitar styles and wonderful vocal richness instantaneously draws you in and leaves you wanting more. A true credit to his originality as a songwriter and talent as a musician.

Artist Links: http://www.jamiemarshall.com/ The Folkmaster May 2001

Darryl Purpose – Travelers’ Code

Travelers’ Code, Darryl’s third CD, is as colourful as the man himself. Darryl was once recognized as the World’s top blackjack player and is an avid peace activist. Darryl’s peace march took him across the U.S and on to Russian which culminated in the first-ever, outdoor stadium rock concert in the former Soviet Union, featuring Bonnie Raitt, Santana, James Taylor and Darryl’s band, Collective Vision. Travelers’ Code becomes part of you, the baritone voice and smoothly proficient finger-style guitar, gently shines through especially on: “Mr Schwinn”, a simply crafted song about the sadness of an unfulfilled love,

Martyn Joseph – Far from Silent

“Far from Silent” is about real life, people and experiences. When you listen to the words behind the songs you begin to understand the depth to Martyn’s world. Like the destruction of communities, cultures and traditions portrayed in the song ”All in the Past” or the irony and false obsession in the words to “Celebrity“. Martyn Joseph is a visual cinema with the perfect sound track. I remember my first screening of “The Mayor of Candor Lied” a roller coaster period drama with an ending that will give Spielberg a run for his money. By far the most poignant song on the album

Lorraine Jordan – This Big Feeling

“This Big Feeling” has it all: Syncopated rhythms where guitar, cello, accordion and bouzouki work together in perfect harmony, blended with soft rhythmic swing vocals that accompany travelling blues, to the sunnier rhythms of Hawaiian slide guitar, mixed with meandering accordion and gospel undertones.

“This Big Feeling” is a huge achievement. Lorraine has not only composed and written the majority of songs and plays guitar/ bouzouki or percussion on all of the tracks, but also has gathered together a tightly knitted group of musicians who underpin the wonderful depth to her vocal range giving the album tremendous feeling, expression and composition. www.musicscotland.com/lorrainejordan The Folkmaster

Celtus – What goes Around

“What goes Around” builds a new refined pyramid of sound, vocal and spirit. John and Pat McManus are at the heart of this new structure, which is held together with the strongest set of songs to date, heavenly harmonies and exciting new concepts. Track Analysis: “What Goes Around”, Eastern Techno-folk flavour with funky Bodhran. “Breathe”, a wonderful, smooth, polished love song that takes you to a sacred place. “Angel”, beautiful acoustic guitar and vocals that shine with compassion.

Gjallarhorn – Sjofn

Gjallarhorn’s unique mix of world music finds its roots in the Swedish folk music of Finland. It features a layered style of mythical medieval ballads, whirling minuets, prayers in runo-metric chants and Icelandic rimur epics.

There are some moments of sheer improvisation and others that are “composed” and influenced in the classic Indian style.

Twin fiddles or fiddle and viola add depth and variation and a wonderful slide-didge creates a sharmanistic pulse that underpins many of the compositions. Jews Harp is also used to produce really interesting effects and Afro-Cuban, Indian and Middle-Eastern percussion heightens the dance as the drum beats out a trance-like rhythm.

The Whisky Priests – Bloody Well Live! (Special Edition)

Fast paced folk-punk antics with Glen Miller’s leading accordion that will get your heart pumping and your feet moving.

A special mention must be made for Gary Miller’s skill as a lyricist, which is a mixture of Northern English passion and sheer gusto… No mess, no thrills, in this face-to-face confrontation where you’re left asking the question – Did the words or the music come first?

Recorded at New Year in Hamburg, Germany in the early nineties and digitally remastered for your listening pleasure (ED…sounds like a condom!). This double-live album was originally released as a single CD in 1993, when it achieved Independent Top Twenty Chart success in several European countries. The new addition contains the entire concert recording, remixed and remastered in all its glory.

You don’t need to write too much about the Whiskey Priests, you’ve either seen them live or opened your window one day and heard them. A breathless gusty piece of work. http://www.myspace.com/whiskypriests The Folkmaster

Eliza Carthy – Angels & Cigarettes

Interesting concept that explores a yearning for what you can’t have and an addiction for what you shouldn’t have.

Stylistically, the album reflects its title as an emotional melting pot of past and present states.

“Angels & Cigarettes” contains 10 carefully chosen tracks that subtly complement each other – like the opening track “Whispers of Summer”, which has a lovely upbeat feel and happily bobs along with its cheeky fiddle parts – compared to the “Train Song” which gently builds its rhythm to a faint Latin beat.

Eliza has assembled a collection of works that have a modern edge. Some of the most notable highlights are: the seductive night-time jazz backbeat of “Whole”: Van Dyke Parks pedal steel guitar on “Perfect”; and the progressive dance beat of “Breathe” with its undercurrent of piano – and the moment of collision – when breathing stops. http://www.eliza-carthy.com/ The Folkmaster