quick song backed with strummed dulcimers, keyboards, recorder, and xylophone. On Ousflug, several of the instrumentals are standouts, including “Basse Danse La Gatta,” which uses organ, recorders, and percussion to state the theme, then adds guitars, a rhythm section, and wordless vocals for a richer sound. The final Ougenweide CD includes Ja-Markt and Noch Aber ist Abril Corvus Corax [BCD 15974], the band’s seventh and eighth studio albums. These were recorded without the help of the group’s longtime producer Achim Reichel, which may help explain the radical change in the group’s sound. Gone are most of the medieval elements, leaving a more conventional rock band with only a few folk touches. There are moments of beauty on both these albums, including some pretty oboe playing and Tull-style flute on Ja- Markt. They’re well-done early-80s pop albums, much like what its contemporary Malicorne achieved with its final two albums. Like those Malicorne albums, however, these appealed less to the group’s original fans than the earlier mate- rial, and have aged less well since. Thus, this is my least favorite of the Ougenweide reissues. One note on all the Ougenweide material: The two CDs reviewed in # 128 had extensive liner notes in English; these three CDs have all the notes in German only. Staying with reissues for the moment, Giles Farnaby’s Dream Band [Walhalla WH90324 (2004)], the 1973 album by the short-lived band of the same name, must count as one of the classics of early-music/ s we’ve seen in recent However, be warned that the group for the soundtrack of a TV series folk-rock crossover. The band was issues, the crossover on German history. This material was more improvisational onstage formed by combining two existing between folk-rock and than on record, and several of the comes from a later period than the groups: Trevor Crozier’s Broken early music has been fruitful since tracks have extended jazz solos in band’s usual fare, from 1525 to Consort played a mixture of folk the 1970s, and is seeing something the middle of the medieval and folk 1848. Ousflug was a return to its music and medieval tunes, while St. of a renaissance today. We’ve material. Classic tracks have grown usual material, a mixture of medi- George’s Canzona was one of Brit- already reviewed the first reissues in length: “Der Fuchs,” a translation eval song texts and new words on ain’s leading medieval ensembles. from German medieval rock band of the English folksong “Daddy medieval themes, set primarily to For the album, they were augmented Ougenweide [see “A Medieval Fox,” has grown from about five the group’s own music. The playing by folksinging quartet the Druids, Bestiary” in Dirty Linen #128], minutes to almost nine, while style remained much the same for and a rhythm section from the so we’ll start with an update. The “Ougenweide” has gone from just both albums, combining rock guitar, burgeoning Canterbury jazz scene. catalog of the group’s classic bass, and drums with medieval over six minutes to just under 12! Named after a prominent composer albums was completed in 2007, on instruments, orchestral textures, These are extreme cases, though, of the 16th and 17th centuries, the three Bear Family CDs. The first, and touches of world music; non- and mostly we get more-relaxed band recorded mainly dance tunes Ungezwungen [BCD 16141], was German speakers might not even versions of the studio tracks, which from John Playford’s 17th- century originally a double LP consisting notice the differences in repertoire. collections. Period instruments make for a very enjoyable CD and a of live-in-concert versions of the Fryheit’s highlights include “Ich include the delicate-sounding citole good introduction to the band. group’s best-known songs. This sinn’, ich denke hin und her,” a and bowed psaltery and the raucous, is the album to get if you want to The second reissue features Ougen- traditional song arranged with a bleating crumhorn. Meanwhile, folk understand what the group sounded weide’s fifth and sixth studio modified Bo Diddley beat that picks instruments like banjo, concertina, like live; indeed, some fans say albums, Fryheit and Ousflug [BCD up xylophones and great 70s synthe- and harmonica ensure a uniquely it’s the first CD you should buy, 15962]. Fryheit was a set of tradi- sizers along the way, and “Lang’ anachronistic blend, and the bass and since it’s a “greatest hits” album. tional and historical songs recorded erhoffte Friedenstaube,” a light, drums give it a very 1970s sound.
18 December ’08/January/February ’09 #139 This album includes classics of impressive offering, including the period, including “Nonesuch,” Subway to Sally guitars, mandola, mandolin, “Childgrove,” and “Pastime With bagpipes, violin, renaissance lute, Good Company,” along with folk oud, flutes, bass, drums, and percus- standards like “The Helston Furry sion…among other things. The band Dance” and “Ratcliffe Highway.” got its start playing Celtic music, But it also includes many tunes rarely and here it performs “Horo,” a piece recorded on the folk scene, including of mouth music that was taught to the stately “Hole in the Wall,” the many singers by Ewan MacColl. sprightly “Shrewsbury Lasses,” and It does a creditable job, though the jaunty “The Happy Clown,” members didn’t understand all the which is given a particularly apt, words. The rest are original songs goofy-sounding arrangement. The on medieval themes, influenced by recording sessions were apparently ballads and other folk traditions; relaxed, as flubbed notes and other two songs are made up of riddles, clams were tolerated. No matter. another is about a court jester, and They do little to spoil the fun. “Sieben” seems to be a variant of the fairy tale “Bluebeard,” also known Now on to newer releases. Corvus as “Mr. Fox.” This album will be Corax’s breakthrough album, a pleasant surprise to adventurous Seikilos [Noir DFD 20517], was delivered in thick, deep harmonies bagpipes and rumbling drums. With folk-rock fans. Bastard [Noir DFD finally released in the United States using unusual and bone-shaking subtle textures, fascinating harmo- 20187 (2007)] is a studio album that in 2007. The album begins with adds the element Nackt is missing: truly early music — an arrange- intervals. It sounds quite apoca- nies, catchy melodies, and strong lyptic, like the scene in the movie rhythmic drive, this album has all heavy metal guitar. As on Nackt, ment of the “Seikilos skolion,” the the songs are well-written, literate earliest reliably dated complete where the Devil finally appears the elements that make this group a — which is exactly the dramatic favorite on the European Medieval pieces on medieval and biblical piece of music in the world, an themes. Anyone who likes Euro- flair this band enjoys! On both the fair scene. ancient Greek song notated onto a pean folk music and heavy metal song arrangements and the many tombstone about 2,000 years ago. The oddly named German band should find a lot to like here, but Other songs include an ancient instrumentals, shawms, bombardes, Subway to Sally currently has two the crunchy chords can be overpow- Greek poem by Longinus, an Old crumhorns, citterns, hurdy-gurdies, domestic offerings. Nackt [Noir ering. So, folk fans beware: You High German saying set to music, and lyres all appear, but here as DFD 20137 (2007)], German for might find you like them and a 15th-century French ballade elsewhere Corvus Corax thrills “naked,” is its unplugged album, better naked! by François Villon. The vocals are mainly with its massed medieval recorded live in concert. It’s an Dirty Linen is changing publication schedule! In order to realign our newsstand and subscriber mailing dates, Dirty Linen will publish a one-time only three- month issue for Dec ’08/Jan/Feb ’09. We will resume bimonthly copies with the March/April 2009 issue. Subscribers will still receive the six issues (and three bonus sampler CDs!) they signed up for. Future issues will
be mailed well ahead of newsstand dates, and they will olk music and dance workshops in the heart of probably see each new Dirty Linen in their mailboxes long North Carolina’s beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. before it hits the store racks. •Traditional Song Week, July 5-11 If you purchase Dirty Linen on the newsstand, now is a •Fiddle Week, July 5-11 great time to subscribe! In addition to having expedited •Celtic Week, July 12-18 access to each new issue as it comes out, you will •Old-Time Week, July 19-25 receive three sampler CDs over the course of a year’s •Contemp. Folk Week, July 26-Aug. 1 subscription. These CDs, with newly released music •Guitar Week, July 26-Aug. 1 •Dulcimer Week, Aug. 2-8 selected by the editors of Dirty Linen, are not available The Swannanoa Gathering Warren Wilson College with newsstand copies or in any store. PO Box 9000 Asheville, NC 28815 828.298.3434 Visit dirtylinen.com to sign up www.swangathering.com today! Or call 1-800-276-5441.
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