Customer Reviews

Cogs, Wheels And Lovers

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

 

 

I have been a huge fan of Steeleye Span since 1972, when I bought `Please To See The King'.
`Cogs, Wheels and Lovers' is their 21st studio album in 40 years and the music is better than ever. No newly written material this time but only `Steeleye-interpretations' of classic Folk songs. It is the thing they do best and it was their original concept when they recorded their first album `Hark! The Village Wait' in 1969.

Maddy Prior is taking the lead on almost all track (Except on the beautiful `Two Constant Lovers', which is sung by Peter Knight). Maddy's voice has gained warmth over the years and it is a real joy to listen to her. Combined with Peter Knights unique violin playing, some very good percussion by Liam Genockey, bass guitar by Rick Kemp and some good guitar work by Ken Nicol, this has become a very good and harmonious album. There is not one track I do not like. My favourite track? Hard to say. I would go for `The Unquiet Grave' but that is mainly because I have loved this song for many, many years. I first heard it on the album Joan Baez/5, which was released in 1965. Steeleye's version of the song is brilliant.

Don't stop your CD player when you think the last track (Thornaby Woods) is ended. After a little more than a minute of silence (at 5:20 m) a 'hidden track' follows. It is a beautiful version of 'The Great Silkie of Sules Skerry'. Joan Baez sang it in 1961, on her second album (Then the title was simply `Silkie') and Maddy sang another version of this ballad on her solo CD `Ravenchild' in 1999. Here it is sung by Maddy, with only Peter on the violin. Wonderful!

Congratulations, Steeleye Span! Let's hope more masterpieces like this album will follow!

Once again Steeleye Span brings fresh and perfect arrangements for a variety of great songs. They are consistently one of the best folk rock bands that have ever been around and never seem to lose that edge that makes them great. Maddie's vocals haven't lost a bit of their vibrancy and power and Peter Knight's fiddle work is always just astounding.

When I purchased this Steeleye Span production, I thought I knew what to expect, since I had already bought many of their recordings, but as soon as I hit 'play', I realised that this was a little different, and wholly special. The tracks are more akin to mini ballads, and the music is great. Another reason why this recording pleases, is the mysterious addition of an unlisted track, which is in itself a delightful song. This disc is essential for devotees of Steeleye, and is worth striving to obtain, no matter what the price is.

As a long-time fan of Steeleye Span, I was bitterly disappointed with this latest album. Many of the songs are very derivative - there are some rehashes of previous songs with different words and new rhythms. The vocals frequently sound tired; Maddy Prior hasn't lost that fantastic voice but it doesn't impress here, partly because many of the melodies just aren't catchy. My advice would be to stick to the wonderful earlier albums: they will always be a joy to listen to.