Customer Reviews

Rosa Mundi

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

 

 

June Tabor may very well be the finest interpretor of both the archaic and the modern.I can thing of no other singer with a better sense of drama,timing,and selection of melodic yet relevant material.Her pianist,Huw Warren owns a very fine sense of the appropriate and his style is reminiscent of Keith Jarrett.BUY THIS CD with no reservations!June Tabor is reviewed worldwide as one of the finest singers of this or any other generation.Six stars.

"Rose Mundi" is a return to form for June Tabor, after the disappointing "A Quiet Eye". Part of the reason for this lies in the fact that, with "Rose Mundi", June does more of what she does best: Sing traditional English Folk ballads. No one in the world (NO ONE) can match the expressiveness of her rich baritone. No one puts as much emotion into these types of songs as June. A case in point is the pauses and accents she inserts in "Maybe Then I'll Be a Rose", which beautifully convey the feeling of love's longing. I believe that another reason for June's return to form is the fact that the format of this disc as June's first "concept" record challenged her to greater heights. Finally, June's band is outstanding. As on previous efforts, Huw Warren should receive a medal for his work on piano. One listen to the delicateness of his introduction to "Paint Me, Redoute" will soften the hardest of hearts. Listen to Rose Mundi and experience perhaps the greatest English Folk balladeer ever at the peak of her powers.

Singing and gardening are Tabor's two lifelong passions. If I were to compare her voice to a rose, I would have to call it Jackson and Perkin's "Voluptuous." The color is rich and strong and it's the old tea-rose you have grown up with at its finest. However, the background playing is almost black and white. Pianist Huw Warren is a genius at finding just the right place to punctuate Tabor's 'peaty' contralto and make the song bloom rich in your heart.

This album returns to Tabor's traditional roots. "Rose of Picardy" a popular WWI song about everlasting love is the newest of the songs. A notable cover is her "Barbry Allen." Tabor's interpretation highlights Barbry's emotions in a way that no man's version could.

From the Queen of English folk music, this is a wonderful album celebrating the rose. It's packed full of traditional songs from across Britain and beyond. I also like the CD booklet which gives a bit of information about each songs.

Her vocals are, as usual, beautifully clear and you can hear every word - and the arrangements are simple and brilliantly played (less is more, here).

I don't know how she does it, but June Tabor just keeps producing fantastic albums. I thought "A Quiet Eye" was a sensational album and was a little frightened about buying "Rosa Mundi" - how could I have doubted you, June? You're the English rose whick we should be celebrating.

June Tabor is one of my favorite singers. Her skills as a vocalist and interpreter are unique and without peer. The range of selections on this recording is proof (that is if one needs proof) that Tabor is in a league of her own when it comes to communicating through song. This work is a subtler piece than some of her previous efforts, but then a rose is a subtle affair. While other albums have had strong political/social moments (i.e. her version of Richard Thompson's "Pavane"), "Rosa Mundi" is more about romance and the goodness and sadness of it. However she does make a clever statement about the male chauvinism of the old song "Babary Ellen" with the final song "Maybe Then I'll Be A Rose". So grab this CD and treat yourself to some outstanding singing and musicianship. I feel very blessed to have June Tabor's voice, vision and art as a part of my musical life.

The reigning grand dame of English song is back, with a typically rich, multi-faceted album which explores her country's fascination with the thorny, flowering briar known as the rose. If you're a Tabor fan, this record will be a delight; non-fans may find her a bit stuffy, but of course, that's part of the charm. Tabor's current style of chamber music accompaniment (cello, piano, violin and viola) suits her well, and is employed with a sparing yet stately sense of beauty. Lofty, but well worth checking out!

Actually I'm a little befuddled....this CD is listed as Number 5 of "Todays Top Sellers", it's December 21st and the description includes this baffling note "This item will not arrive until after December 25." Okay, so that's creative marketing....how about a classification entitled "Next Weeks Top Sellers"?