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fR398 PAGES 54-69 (11 Pgs)_Layout 1 30/06/2016 11:50 Page 11 67 f The standard of engineering is exem- RICHARD BONA Admirals Hard are an appealing bunch. plary, and Allan’s guitar, where used, is kept Whilst they don’t possess the vocal firepower in sensible perspective within the complex, Heritage Qwest Records 2342145 of some of the more established shanty often quite lavish texture. Super-Audio CD at groups, their manifestly impressive instru- its very finest, housed in a sturdy state-of-the- Richard Bona has got a hell of a lot going for mental chops – Billy Pigg is another cited art hardcover package incorporating a full- him. His recording career shows that he has influence – (showcased on The Random Jig/ colour 54-page book containing a multi-lan- tried his hand at a wide range of musical gen- I’ll Get Wedded In My Auld Claes), skilled har- guage background essay, an abundance of res but this most recent release shows that he monies (featured unaccompanied on Leave photos, complete lyrics and song notes and has found a platform in which he can excel. Her Johnny Leave Her) and good-natured even full personnel listing for the 53-piece He has a singing voice that many would die enthusiasm carry them through handsomely. for, a voice ideal for the smooth Afro-Cubism orchestra. All told, a beautifully produced facebook.com/admiralshard release. www.allantaylor.com music of which he is a leading exponent. His album is clearly very expensively produced Steve Hunt David Kidman and he has been able to surround himself with a bunch of hugely talented musicians. THE BOOKSHOP BAND They may come from a variety of ethnic back- ADAMA DRAMÉ grounds but they work together in a way that Dakan Buda Musique 4790380 Curious And Curiouser The Bookshop is tight, effective and very carefully planned Band CDTBB009 with nothing left to chance. In a part of his notes on a professional career So there is his voice, but there is also his stretching back over 50 years, Adama writes, The first in a planned series of ten (yes, real- musicianship. His main instrument is given as “Why the hell did I choose the hard job of ly!) releases this year by The Bookshop Band – bass guitar but here he also contributes guitar, music – and why of all things the djembe?… a flexible cast of musicians around a core duo keyboards, percussion and that core instru- all this was crowned with multiple disap- of Beth Porter and Ben Please, who “write ment of Latin music, the… err… electric sitar! songs inspired by books, and play them in pointments, both professional and personal.” bookshops”. Played on a wondrous array of Originally from Cameroon, he is now Well, with many Manding jalis whom I have instruments including guitars, ukuleles, based in France and this album was recorded met, it is not a matter of them choosing music accordeon, cello, harmonium, oboe, glocken- and mixed at top studios in Paris and New as much as music choosing them for family spiel, viola and brass, their music encompass- York. His upcoming world tour takes in and heritage reasons and Adama learned his es elements of folk, classical, indie, jazz and twelve countries including one stopover in life and music skills from his father and soundtrack. the UK at the Albert Hall on 22 August as part grandfather. And Adama, if your career has of the BBC Proms no less! brought as much enjoyment as this outstand- The theme of this album is “books with a www.richardbona.com ing release brings, then you will have given sense of the fantastical,” which include clas- enjoyment to huge numbers. sics like Alice In Wonderland and A Midsum- Vic Smith mer Night’s Dream, along with contemporary Some tracks have a very straightforward titles including Mark Hodder’s Burton And Manding sound with a small group playing Swinburne In The Strange Affair Of Spring- ADMIRALS HARD traditional instruments and lovely female Heeled Jack and The Coincidence Engine by response singing; the balafon playing of Solo- Sam Leith. Once Upon A Time is cleverly com- Upon A Painted Ocean Believers Roast lamane Diabaté plays a prominent part in posed entirely of book first lines. BR018 these. Elsewhere, the approach is more mod- ern with Western instruments added, but there There’s no necessity to have read any of Admirals Hard are the brainchild of Cornish- is the feeling that the solidly Manding core the books to enjoy these songs, but after lis- man Andy Carne, who persuaded several of his reaches out to incorporate suitable additions tening, you might well have a mind to. They fellow London-based West Country exiles – from wider influences. The very attractive all have properly good tunes and Porter – members of such diverse cult bands as Cardiacs, booklet gives translations of the lyrics in long-respected as an instrumentalist, excels Knifeworld, Gong, Mediaeval Baebes and French and English which show the typical mix as a singer, too. North Sea Radio Orchestra, to form a folk of praise songs and moral guidance. Particu- The CD package is an attractive, cleverly- group. Utilising harmonium, hurdy-gurdy, larly pleasing is SNC which starts with a sort of crafted design, totally in keeping with the melodeon, hammered dulcimer and seven voic- soundscape and gradually segues into a gen- contents. Two bonus tracks are included – an es, their repertoire is derived largely from Cyril tle song in praise of a cultural event with bala- extract from David Mitchell’s The Bone Tawney and The Yetties (surely the most fon and violin leading the accompaniments. Clocks, read by Fiona O’Shaughnessy, and unlikely of alternative icons, even in a scene Most of the music was recorded in a town Stanley Dogwood reading from Humor. that latterly celebrates Shirley Collins and Anne in eastern Burkina Faso with later smaller thebookshopband.co.uk Briggs as goddesses of underground cool). additions in Paris. Adama’s partner in the pro- Steve Hunt It’s genuinely refreshing to hear musi- duction was that great musical mind, Ray cians unaffectedly celebrating the beloved Lema and between them they have supervised sounds of their childhoods. While the likes of an album of great variety and high quality. TAMBOURS CROISÉS The Eddystone Light, The Broadside Man and In spite of the huge satisfaction given by All For Me Grog offer few surprises, their the nature of these arrangements, the out- Chapter Two Buda Musique 860292 inventive yet respectful arrangements, and standing track is a nine-minute plus djembe the shuffling rhythms applied to shanties, the Fifteen artists from seventeen French Over- solo where the sheer diversity and technique discordant harmonium on Martin Said To His seas Departments plus some from Senegal of the sounds produced by a solo drum is Man, Richard Larcombe’s fluid guitar picking were gathered together in 2011 in France mesmerising. on Rounding The Horn all provide plenty of (The Year of France Overseas). They rehearse www.budamusique,com evidence that these old chestnuts are still as songs together to develop a show to take to tasty as ever they were. Vic Smith range of venues, theatres, exhibitions, educa- tional establishments. Some of the time is allowed for jam sessions. It is a success and is Admirals Hard repeated, though the programme is radically changed and developed each year. This CD was recorded of most of the items that were included in the 2015 tour. They explain their methodology in this way – “The notions of creation and passing on in our approach as much as the performance”. The format is fairly simple. Voices are heard singing individually or in small num- bers singing in harmony. The only accompani- ment is hand drums in a wide variety of rhythms and what sounds like a referee’s whistle. The singing seems to be structured in a way that invites audience participation. The performers sound as though they are having the time of their lives as they record. If so much palpable joy is conveyed from a record- ing, how much delight must there be in see- ing them live? www.budamusique,com Vic Smith.

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