Customer Reviews

Signs of Life

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

 

 

As good as any of Carthy's recordings. His guitar playing is generally more spare, but no less dazzling: His tone is large, chunky, and gorgeous, and his time is exciting and strange. Carthy's singing has not gone downhill in the slightest - I would much rather listen to his voice now than 30 years ago.

One reviewer has questioned the inclusion of newer songs, although Carthy has recorded great renditions of non-traditional songs throughout the years. (Listen to Nothing Rhymed on Because It's There.) I could do without Heartbreak Hotel and The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll, but I like New York Mine Disaster, John Parfit, and especially the delightful Hong Kong Blues. If you'd rather he stick to the old songs, there's still an lp's worth, including a driving Sir Patrick Spens w/Eliza (following Nic Jones' tune), and The Deserter, which is very beautiful.

If you like Martin Carthy, you should like this record. If you don't know if you like Martin Carthy, this is a good place to start. The live Life and Limb (w/Dave Swarbrick, featuring an unbelievable Byker Hill) would be better, but it's out of print.

I was researching Martin Carthy and had to hear his and his wife's voice. He is married to Norma Waterson. They were both honored by the Queen of England with MBEs (Member of the Order of the British Empire) although separately for their services to music. I used some of the songs here like Sir Patrick Spens, The Wife of Usher's Well, and Barbary Ellen to play for senior English students who were studying British folk music as part of the Prentice hall curriculum. Anyway, I know the students were not fond of British folk or American folk in Newark, New Jersey. But I felt since I was teaching the three songs that Martin Carthy and this Compact Disc was an invaulable tool. Rather than just reading the ballads, we hear it. Carthy is a master storyteller and so is his wife, Norma and their family are just traditional British folk storytellers. He is an influence even on American folk musicians. British folk is an aquired taste but once you acquire it, you won't forget the heart and soul of this compact disc filled with stories to be told.

The list is as follows:

New York Mine Disaster 1941

Georgie

Sir Patrick Spens

The Deserter

Heartbreak Hotel

The Bonny Hind

The Wife of Usher's Well

John Parfit

Barbary Ellen

Hong Kong Blues

The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll

Prince Heathen

Jim Jones in Botany Bay

OK, it's simple. Mr. Carthy, his voice, and guitar. A little violin on four songs, harmonica on one. Performed and recorded directly, plainly, clearly. Beautiful and strong. Just listen.

And a solid selection of songs- terrific trad stuff, strong performances, and find mixed in some unexpected material. The Bee Gees? Heartbreak Hotel? Hong Kong Blues? Cool. And a great version of The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carrol. All delivered in a way that makes the whole recording feel a single piece.

Quite nice. I like this record

I was brought up in a school of thinking that if you cant say anything constructive dont say anything at all, but I felt delivering a 5 star rating to an album that is faded by comparison to Carthy's other work, all of which I have, is not helpful either. The sparkle in Carty's guitar accompniment has been replaced by a more economical approach which fails to punctuate or add vibrance as it has in the past. Check out Prince Heathen which has been reworked by removing some of the notes. This is a shame because its more necessary now, or at least on this album, because Carthy's voice seems less resonant, a little hollow but not yet haunting. I expect the purists prefer the style Carthy seems to have adopted, but perhaps they have problems with the content. Do the Bee Gees and Elvis need to feature here?

Its sour grapes for me, the messages I heard on the albums of the past became a part of me, I wanted more of the same and I have no right to expect it, shame. I hope its only me who is disappointed.