It is a rare record that can successfully fuse seemingly disparate styles of music together into something new and exciting, while giving equal justice to the original styles. Britain's most revered folk-rock band Fairport Convention's 4th record, Liege & Lief, does just that. Not well known stateside, Fairport Convention is much beloved in the UK. Don't just take my word for it. The record tops several British music polls as one of the best folk-rock records ever made. After listening to it quite a bit of late, I'd have to agree. For what it tries to accomplish, it could not have been done any better.
What works so well is that it really is an equal balance between traditional British folk and electric rock and roll. The song choices (six daring rearrangements of traditional folk songs and two originals that fit right in) hit just the right notes. This is also the most celebrated line-up of the long living Fairport Convention, featuring the guitar/songwriting deity (amongst music critics) Richard Thompson and the angelic vocals of Sandy Denny. While Thompson's guitar playing is stellar (especially on the longer workouts "Matty Groves" and "Tam Lin") alongside fellow soloist, Dave Swarbrick on violin, it is the stunning Sandy Denny that steals the show. Her hauntting vocals inhabit these folk songs completely, drawing out all of the magic, mystery and foreboding that they possess. (Her vocals mesh especially well with Thompson's moody guitar work on the dirge-like "Reynardine").
It is so rare at this stage of life as a music fan to come across a perfect record that can move me so, but I have. I am a fan of cohesive records that stand together as a whole, even more so in this day and age of digital music where individual songs are once again the focus, like the 1950's, over the album format. This is a record that is perfect from start to finish, there is not a single misstep, not a single wrong decision here. And ANCIANT, this rating is the real deal. No need to use your usual Dez handicap for my ratings!
***** out of *****
ABOVE: The rollicking opener "Come All Ye" is great. I could have picked any tune on the record, though, they are all fantastic.
ABOVE: "Crazy Man Michael" features the late, great Sandy Denny's gorgeous vocals.
No comments:
Post a Comment