Customer Reviews

Abyssinians

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

...and what songs! Purity, directness and unflinching honesty are just some of the hallmarks of June Tabor's work, and for me this is one of her finest collections. No fancy arrangements, simple (almost stark) accompaniment or none at all, but with a voice such as hers, who needs it? "The Scarecrow", "She Moves Among Men" and "Lay This Body Down" are my personal favourites although there are no weak tracks here. "One Night as I Lay On My Bed" recalls Steeleye Span's early days and June's excellent work with Maddy Prior in Silly Sisters. I would recommend this album and "Against the Streams" as prime June Tabor...easy listening, however, it certainly is not. Be amazed at the vocal power & control, but be prepared for a harrowing time in the choice of subject matter.

There are very few voices in the world with the radiant clarity that June Tabor's voice possesses. This album is among her most compelling, simply because the spare instrumentation of the accompaniment allows her to shine. The dark lyrics produce a stark contrast to the beauty of of her singing, and the effect is unforgettable. This is traditional English music at its most powerful.

Don't stop with this CD, though. Do yourself a favor and look into her other solo albums, all of them uniformly excellent, and her varied collaborations with such folk stalwarts as Maddy Prior, Martin Carthy, Nic Jones, and Andy Irvine.

Every Tabor CD has a song you probably should avoid if you're feeling a bit down. While her voice is dark and rich as pure chocolate--there is also that bitter edge and you can hear it here.

stripped down bare irish offering. June Tabor's voice is rich and full of emotion...but the production is poor and threadbare. "the Scarecrow" is one of my favorite all time songs..sad and an interesting mix of guitar and cello. "the barmaids song" is also excellent. Most all of the songs are somber odes or ballads. Very traditional Irish stuff. The acapella songs are a little much. Overall a moody, dark cd that requires patience and...geez I guess one of those "I vant to be alone" moods.