November - Joe Topping

Bonfire Radicals – The Space Between – Own Label BR002

This sextet all make their homes in Birmingham and perform on this album with great zest, enthusiasm and variety, It would be difficult to better the self-description found on their website: - “Expect the unexpected, with global grooves, instrumental fireworks, rich vocal harmonies and delicate a cappella emerging from a melting pot of original and traditional tunes from the British Isles to the Balkans.” The backline of guitar, bass and drums is what would be expected from a folk/rock band; it is what the three female melody players contribute that brings their different freshness and originality. It would be difficult to name a folk or folk/rock band where the humble recorder is featured so prominently or so effective as what Michelle Holloway beings to this album. She has an effective foil in a lower register from Katie Stevens on clarinet and between them weaves the fiddling of Sarah Farmer. The complex and fast changing arrangements make sure that interest is maintained. Michelle is also the lead singer and she offers an interesting treatment of a 19th century broadside ballad tale of an 1817 murder, published by three different broadsheet printers. The song sometimes appears in song collections but these ears never heard it sung before. This is followed by “The Man From Suburbia” who is Pete Churchill who contributes bass guitar but also accordion and organ to the album. A piece of music dedicated to Surbiton must be at least as rare as the ballad that preceded it! www.bonfireradicals.com

Vic Smith

Ashley Hutchings - More songs from the shows Talking Elephant TECD477

Yet another of Ashley’s albums which successfully take us down memory lane, this time with a mix of songs and spoken word from four more recent live shows; From Psychedelia to Sonnets from 2016, Beginnings of Fairport Convention from 2017, Dylancentric on the Isle of Wight from 2019, and most recently Paradise and Thorns from 2022. The album features Ashley on bass and vocals along with Ruth Angell, Becky Mills, Guy Fletcher, Ani McNeice, Gerry McNeice, Blair Dunlop, Ken Nicholl and Jacob Stoney. It is easy to forget all the things Ashley has initiated or been involved in over the last 60 years such as Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, The Albion Band and all it’s variations, Rainbow Chasers, various duos, National Theatre shows, radio and TV and many, many more. I remember seeing him with his bike taking the part of Cecil Sharp in his popular and successful stage show. Apparently this CD is the 100th album Ashley has appeared on and I’m sure there are still more to come.

Alan Castle (Editor)

Words & Music by Bob Watson