Revel & Rally |
I came away from Whitby Folk Week humming snatches of songs heard over the festival from this wonderful duo, so the invitation to review Revel & Rally was welcome, and as I have listened to it for the last while, what strikes me is the panache of it. Classily engineered by Brian Bedford, the disc is exemplary in its discretion and balance — real style! What makes such a refreshing change from much standard fare is the way Peter’s melodeon is so delicate — in less skilled hands, it might well have overwhelmed any voice, even one as strong as Barbara’s, but here it’s controlled and subtle. There is a richness in Barbara’s singing that comes from experience — from knowing how far to push the boundaries and understanding just what your voice can do. And such a collection of rare gems — tremendous versions of well and lesser-known songs (including a selection of Gracie Fields’ classics, for which Barbara has such a reputation). My current favourite is ‘The Nightingale’, a sorry tale of shipwreck and despair, followed closely by ‘Leaves in the Woodland’ from Peter Bellamy’s The Transports. The project is enhanced by contributions from Jane and Amanda Threlfall and Bob Snape, whose harmonies and instrumentation provide additional musical colour on key tracks; again, the motto is discretion — it is clear that the overall concern is that the songs speak for themselves. As I’ve become more familiar with the album as a whole, I find myself drawn to the more melancholic tracks — the Snapes have a knack of communicating emotional depth and leaving you with plenty to mull over. Now whether I’d have been able to do this without the other end of the emotional spectrum, is doubtful — and the comic songs certainly provide an efficient antidote to too much gloom. The Snapes are brilliant entertainers, putting together set lists which
take the audience through a veritable emotional journey; thankfully this
disc reflects their live performance, so if you haven’t seen them yet —
here’s a taster, if you have — here’s a wonderful memory. What are you
waiting
for?
Pippa Noble |
Every so often a CD comes into the office which reminds us what is so special
about folk music — this is one of
them.
Peter Heywood
Editor, The Living Tradition, July 2011
Well this is a really lovely CD. In my opinion it will last and last and
become well loved with its mixture of old and new, serious and funny. Maggie Moore
Mardles (East Anglia’s Folk Magazine
January 2012)
The Snapes deliver on all counts with their characterful
readings of songs from various branches of the tradition. Their club and
festival bookings have enabled them to consolidate the individual niche they
occupy in the context of the folk scene and consequently further refine the
distinctive musical identity they’ve created. The Snapes’ approach is typically
intelligent and considered — and this level of care and attention is a hallmark
of their performances in
general.
David Kidman
Folk Roundabout and NetRhythms
Autumn/Winter 2011/2012