CD Reviews

Rattlebag - Five Four Silver

Rattlebag are a five piece a cappella harmony group from Hastings who deserve to be more widely known. They are mainly to be heard around the folk clubs, sing-a-rounds and festivals of Sussex and Kent and have played the free music stage and concerts at Tenterden Folk Festival. Rattlebag are Judy Atkinson, Faith Brooker, Lynne Heffernan, Emily Chambers and Sian Hayward. On this CD they sing a variety of traditional and more contemporary folk songs such My Johnny was a Shoe Maker, Magpie, Lizzie Lavender, Close the Coalhouse Door, Bring us a Barrel and the Cornish Farewell Shanty. Their style ranges from the quiet and gentle to the more robust but is always clear and precise. The 13 varied tracks on this excellent CD hold your attention and entertain you throughout, which is hard to do with an a cappella album. Another CD well worth adding to your collection.

The Tonic - Feeling Better

The Tonic is a four piece concert and barn dance band comprising Julie & Gavin Atkin from Kent and Ollie & Malcolm Woods from Essex and have been playing together for 10 years. You may have seen them playing for barn dances or at a music session at Tenterden Folk Festival and at other venues across South East England. This album clearly illustrates the range and style of their music which is mainly traditional English song and dance music. The CD was recorded and mastered by Gavin and is of a professional standard and the CD cover includes detailed source notes on all the songs and tunes. Julie features on piano, Ollie on percussion, Malcolm on melodeon, and Gavin on fiddle and melodeons and they all feature on vocals. Tracks range from Raking the Hay to Frankie and Johnny, taking in The Seven Stars / Up the Sides and Down the Middle and William Brown. The sound on this CD put me in mind of the traditional bands of the times gone by such as the great Flowers and Frolics. Highly recommended.

Alan Castle (Editor)