|
Walt
Michael & Co. -" Legacy" -
( Live at Dean Castle - CD ):
An
antidote to all the spoon feeding in-yer-face music that thrusts
itself upon us - yes even in the folk world -,Walt Michael's
music steadfastly refuses to show even a glimmer of lowest
common denominator, and here remains resolutely intelligent,
both in its selection and execution of the material.
Recorded in Scotland, this particular incarnation of "- and
Co." features Evan Stover on fiddle, mandolin and guitar;
Frank Orsini on fiddle and viola, and Tom Whetmore on double
bass, whilst Walt alternates between hammer dulcimer and guitar.
Starting with two sets of tunes, this "live" record of a night
in Dean Castle, Ayrshire may well have immediately grabbed
you on the night, but here its effect is more one of percolating
into your conscious. By the time track three, (the song "Stepstone")
is reached, you're well on the way to being gently pulled
in; the approach as described being helped by informative
introductions which avoid the dearth of live recordings, the
flabby/gabby talk betwee tracks.
The
combination of instrumentals and songs work well although
my sole criticism would be one that with the vocal abilities
in the band, the balance could have been a little more slanted
towards song, as it seems a waste not to have used them more.
The range of material could be placed within several categories
folk, Celtic, bluegrass, old time, and the virtuosity of the
individual band members is emphasised, whilst splashes of
tonal colour provided particularly by the dulcimer at key
points of the evening ensure that the overall effect is a
sparkling one.
The
title track "Legacy" is a gem which fixes on the complex issue
of racism through a story told with admirable simplicity and
appearing midway through the album is perhaps its most obvious
focal point, although it would be misleading to call it its
highlight, in an album containing many. Understated craftsmanship
at its' finest, this is a joy of an album that deserves to
be heard - widely."
Hector Christie, Issue 41, Living Tradition Magazine
|
Walt
Michael & Company @ Common Ground on the Hill's
